Success, whether it’s building a business, excelling in academics, or overcoming personal hurdles, demands ambition. It also requires focus, discipline, and a consistent ability to get things done. But how do you stay self-directed in a world full of distractions or when facing what seems like insurmountable challenges?
Having spent 26 years in prison, I learned valuable techniques to stay motivated, self-directed, and productive, even in the most adverse conditions. These lessons, inspired by studying leaders throughout history, shaped how I accomplished goals. They led to me to:
- Earn university degrees while serving my sentence,
- Publish books that reached a wide audience,
- Build a strong and supportive network.
The lessons guided me through prison, and I still rely upon them today.
If you’re a business professional, entrepreneur, or student striving to reach your highest potential, this blog will guide you. I’ll share the proven strategies that leaders such as Nelson Mandela taught me about staying focused, accomplishing meaningful goals, and paving the way for bigger opportunities.
The Power of a Clear Vision
One of the most critical lessons I learned was the importance of having a clear vision. A vision gives us a detailed picture of where we want to go and who we want to become. Without it, we risk drifting aimlessly, reacting to the pressures of life rather than actively shaping your future.
Nelson Mandela, for instance, endured 27 years of imprisonment with an unwavering vision of a free and democratic South Africa. He had more than a dream. He made a commitment, and set a strategy, with tactics that aligned with every decision he made. Inspired by leaders like him, I discovered that writing my goals and visualizing success helped me maintain focus. Thanks to leaders like Mandela, I never lost motivation. I knew where I wanted to be, and that clarity gave me strength.
Discipline as the Engine of Progress
While vision provides the destination, discipline is the vehicle that gets us there. It’s easy to feel motivated when we first set a goal, but real progress comes from showing up every day. That is the real challenge—just keeping our head in the game. Discipline is a choice we make repeatedly, and it separates those who dream from those who achieve.
During my time in prison, I considered discipline my greatest strength. I structured each day with purpose, knowing that using time effectively would always be my most valuable resource. I created a schedule that reflected my priorities—writing, studying, and building meaningful connections. For instance, I committed to waking up early to study or spent hours crafting manuscripts by hand. The work gave me energy. The harder I worked, the more opportunities would open.
Discipline also means learning to say no. Whether it’s distractions, self-doubt, or fleeting pleasures, staying disciplined requires you to protect your time and focus. Leaders like Mandela reinforced this concept. He practiced immense self-discipline in prison, balancing physical exercise, reading, and planning for his country’s future. His ability to stay focused on his mission became a profound example for me.
Energy and time are finite. With discipline, we can channel our energy and time into what truly matters, advancing toward our goals one small, deliberate step at a time. Discipline keeps the vision alive and turns intentions into reality.
Achieving clarity of vision requires consistent reflection. Take time to ask yourself the big questions:
- What do you want to accomplish?
- Why does it matter to you?
- Who will you need to become to make it happen?
The answers will serve as the foundation of your drive. A clear vision roots you in purpose even when the odds are stacked against you.
Why Getting It Done Matters
Before we get into how to approach your goals, reflect on why getting things done is so important. Progress, no matter how small, has a ripple effect:
- Builds Confidence – Accomplishing small tasks reinforces your ability to execute, creating momentum.
- Attracts Opportunities – People are more likely to invest in and support you when they see you’re reliable and results-driven.
- Instills Discipline – Taking consistent action leads to stronger habits and a more structured approach to challenges.
The most successful leaders throughout history focused on consistent, incremental actions to achieve their vision. From Bill Gates’ disciplined approach to software development to Sam Walton’s obsession with customer experience, their ability to prioritize and execute made all the difference.
Whether you’re rebuilding your life, like I was, or trying to scale your business, focusing on progress—even in the smallest steps—can shape the trajectory of your future.
6 Steps to Staying Self-Directed and Motivated
Here’s a structured approach to help you remain focused and make steady progress toward your goals:
1. Start with Clear Goals
No meaningful progress starts without clarity. Take the time to define what success looks like for you.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want to achieve in the short and long term?
- Why is this goal important to me?
For example, while in prison, I broke my goals into categories like education, writing, and fitness. Each had smaller, measurable milestones to meet, such as completing a book every two weeks or writing a specific number of pages each day.
2. Break It Down Into Smaller Steps
Big goals can often feel overwhelming, so the best way to tackle them is by breaking them into actionable steps. Focus on one task at a time.
For example:
If you’re an entrepreneur launching a product, your steps might include:
- Researching your audience
- Building a prototype
- Testing with a small group
- Refining based on feedback
This approach mirrors the way leaders like Elon Musk tackle complex projects—breaking down ambitious goals into manageable pieces and working through them systematically.
3. Track Your Progress
One of the most powerful habits I developed while in prison was tracking progress. Whether it was finishing a book, completing a workout, or writing daily, visually marking off tasks gave me a sense of accomplishment—and fueled my motivation to keep going. I wrote about this commitment of working to get things done in Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Term.
Peter Drucker, considered the father of modern business management, famously said, “What gets measured gets managed.” By tracking your progress, you stay aligned with your goals and maintain clarity on what’s working and what’s not.
Try this: Use a journal, app, or spreadsheet to record your tasks. Celebrate small wins—they add up and inspire you to tackle bigger ones.
4. Focus on Incremental Progress
I often remind people that real success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of small, consistent actions over time. Darren Hardy, in The Compound Effect, explains that small, positive choices done repeatedly lead to massive results.
For example, while incarcerated, I didn’t focus on my 26-year sentence. I focused on what I could do today to make progress. That mindset allowed me to complete advanced education, write multiple books, and forge relationships that contributed to my success after release.
Remember: Progress may feel slow at times, but every step counts.
5. Learn to Prioritize
Not everything is urgent, and not everything is important. To truly get things done, you must learn how to identify and prioritize the tasks that will bring you closer to your goals.
Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, explained it best:
- “Most people spend more time on what is urgent and less time on what is important.”
Avoid this trap by focusing on tasks that align with your goals rather than getting caught up in distractions. Start each day by identifying and committing to your top three priorities. In my case, I could meditate on Socratic questions:
- Were the decisions advance my education, or skill development?
- In what ways did my activities contribute to society, and how could I measure progress?
- How did the work I was doing on a given day relate to building a stronger support network?
6. Leverage Mentors and Resources
The most successful people find inspiration and direction from others. While in prison, I had mentors—both from books and the people around me—who helped guide my thinking and refine my strategies.
You don’t need to know your mentor personally. Learn from thought leaders in your field through their books, lectures, and interviews. And surround yourself with supportive individuals who can keep you accountable and provide insights when you need them.
Elon Musk, Marcus Aurelius, and Peter Thiel are just a few of my “mentors,” even though I never met them. Their strategies shaped how I approached challenges both in and out of prison.
Ask yourself:
- Who inspires me to improve?
- How can I incorporate their lessons into my own life?
Building Momentum for Long-Term Success
The ability to get things done sets the foundation for a successful, fulfilling life. Over time, small wins compound into larger opportunities:
- A completed project opens the door to new collaborations.
- A polished skill (whether writing, coding, or sales) becomes an asset that attracts attention.
- An organized, motivated approach to life inspires confidence in others, encouraging them to trust you and invest in your vision.
Even after leaving prison, I’ve relied on these principles to build ventures, advocate for justice reform, and create a meaningful impact in my community. It’s not talent, money, or luck that drives success—it’s the consistent effort to get things done. Those skills lead to making a bigger impact, and if we’re good at what we do, they also lead to more money and resources hat we can use to strengthen our mission.
Your Next Steps
What’s one task you’ve been procrastinating on? Start small. Define your goal, break it into manageable steps, and track your progress. Then—most importantly—take the first step today.
For those who want deeper guidance in building self-directed strategies or tackling big ambitions, consider connecting with us here at www.PrisonProfessors.org for resources, webinars, or mentorship. Success happens by choice, not by chance.
Together, we can make progress. One step at a time.
Self-Directed Question
- What would your life look like a year from now if you fully committed to taking consistent, purposeful steps toward your goals each day?
