Imagine standing at the base of a mountain, staring up at its towering peaks. Reaching the summit seems daunting, almost impossible. Step by step, with the right preparation and mindset, you know that you can not only climb it—you can conquer it.
Developing unshakable self-discipline is like scaling that mountain. I remember my friend Lee Nobmann telling me about his experiences of climbing Mount Everest. Lee is a man who build billion-dollar businesses. Companies he launched employ more than 700 people. Yet becoming a self-made billionaire and contributing to society were just some of the achievements he made. He also set out to climb Mount Everest, and he told me that he felt compelled to summit the mountain, as an exercise in self-discipline. He always felt the need to push himself to reach the next goal.
Lee inspired me to work toward pushing myself at various stages of my journey. During my last month of imprisonment, his life inspired me to set a goal of running more miles that month than I ever had before. I ran 700 miles during the month of July, 2012—the last full month that I served in federal prison before i transitioned to a halfway house.
Lee Nobmann inspired me then, and he still inspires me to push myself harder.
The path isn’t always easy, but Lee taught me that with the right tools, anyone can transform difficult tasks into opportunities for growth and resilience.
Self-discipline is the backbone of success. During my 26 years in prison, it shaped my life, guiding me to achieve long-term goals and turning obstacles into stepping stones. Today, I want to share proven strategies that can help you cultivate this essential skill. With the insights and steps in this article, you’ll be equipped to take control of your actions, overcome distractions, and remain consistent—even when motivation fades.
The Power of Self-Discipline
One of the most vivid memories I have on the power of self-discipline comes from reading about Navy SEAL David Goggins. I had already been out of prison for several years when I read about him. I became familiar with him after reading a book by Jesse Itzler who initially hired Goggins as a personal coach. Goggins is renowned for his ability to push through grueling challenges. His story resonates deeply with me because, like my own, it reflects a commitment to consistent, intentional action.
What is self-discipline?
Self-discipline is your ability to consistently take action toward a goal, even when distractions, fatigue, or temptations try to pull you off course. Unlike fleeting motivation, discipline is a habit—a choice you actively cultivate.
During my years of reflection within prison walls, and after many conversations with my friend Lee, I learned that most people attribute success to motivation, but motivation is unreliable. It’s transient and often dependent on external circumstances.
Discipline, on the other hand, is self-imposed, intentional, and enduring.
When we strip away the illusion that motivation alone can lead to transformation, we unlock the true potential of discipline. It becomes the engine that compels us to stay the course.
The Psychology of Discipline
Willpower Is Finite—Leverage Habits Instead
Research by Roy Baumeister on self-control shows that willpower is like a muscle. Overuse leads to fatigue. By the end of the day, decision fatigue often creeps in, leaving us less likely to make disciplined choices. This is where the power of habits comes into play.
Roy Baumeister, a renowned psychologist, who studied self-regulation, willpower, and human behavior taught me a lot. He did research on the strength model of self-control, and it showed how willpower operates like a finite resource. This means that with each exertion of self-control throughout the day, the “muscle” of willpower becomes increasingly depleted.
Baumeister’s work has been widely discussed in academic circles, popular psychology books, and even mainstream media articles. He co-authored a book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength and others frequently reference him in self-help resources that focus on productivity and discipline. His experiments, such as the famous “cookie and radish” study, highlight how acts of self-discipline can drain our cognitive reserves, making his work a critical foundation for understanding the interplay between habits, decision-making, and long-term success.
The “cookie and radish” study is one of his most well-known experiments, designed to explore the concept of self-control as a limited resource. He brought participants into a room filled with the aroma of freshly baked cookies, and two groups were tasked with resisting different temptations. One group was asked to eat the cookies, while the other was instructed to resist the cookies and eat radishes instead.
Following this task, he gave an unsolvable puzzle for both groups to work on. The results revealed that the radish-eating group, which had exerted self-control to resist the cookies, gave up on the puzzle much faster than the cookie-eating group. He concluded that his experiment demonstrated that exercising self-control in one situation can deplete willpower, making it harder to persist through challenges that follow—a concept now known as “ego depletion.”
I had to to develop habits while in prison to automate discipline. For example, I cultivated the habit of waking up early to write every day. Regardless of where authorities confined me, I could always write. I believed that by disciplining myself to write 1,000 words each day, I would become more skilled at writing, which would lead to higher prospects for success upon release. By automating this behavior, I reduced the amount of energy needed to stay consistent.
The Marshmallow Test
You might have heard of the famous Marshmallow Test conducted at Stanford University. Children were given two options—eat one marshmallow immediately or wait 15 minutes to receive two. Years later, researchers discovered that the children who delayed gratification achieved higher levels of academic and professional success. The experiment proved a link between delayed gratification (an essential component of self-discipline) and long-term achievement.
I don’t recall which book I read, but I liked the story and its simplicity. The experiment’s story resonates because it offers a clear and memorable demonstration of how small choices can snowball into significant outcomes. The Marshmallow Test encourages us to assess how we manage our own impulses in the face of long-term goals.
Strategies to Build Self-Discipline
Now that we understand the psychology, let’s focus on actionable strategies to develop unshakable self-discipline.
1. Set Clear, Measurable Goals
During my time in prison, one of the lessons I adopted was the importance of setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals, as I wrote about in the Straight-A Guide (the course that Lee Nobmann inspired me to write). For instance, I set a clear, measurable goal to earn a degree within 10 years. Having this concrete goal guided my daily actions and gave me a sense of direction.
Create goals that leave no room for ambiguity. For example, instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” say, “I want to lose 20 pounds in 6 months by exercising five times a week and eating 1,800 calories a day.”
2. Reduce Decision Fatigue by Creating Routines
Decision fatigue drains your mental energy. To sidestep this, create structured routines. For example:
- Decide when you’ll exercise and what you’ll eat in advance.
- Commit to specific times for work, reading, or family.
When I was incarcerated, I maintained structured routines that included writing, fitness, and studying. By turning these tasks into non-negotiable parts of my day, I avoided burnout and maintained focus.
3. Eliminate Temptations and Distractions
To succeed, you need to design your environment to support your goals. For example, if your goal is to avoid sugary foods, don’t keep them in your house. If you want to focus on writing, remove your phone from your desk.
4. Celebrate Small Wins
Every step forward counts. Achieving small milestones builds momentum and reinforces the habit of discipline. For instance, when I completed a single assigned reading during my studies in prison, I would mentally celebrate. That small victory served as fuel for continued progress.
Overcoming Common Discipline Challenges
When Motivation Fades
If you ever feel uninspired, fall back on your systems and routines. Starting might be the hardest part. Once you get started, you may find, as I did, that momentum will carry you through. I wrote about that in other courses, based upon what I learned from Jim Collins and his story of the fly wheel.
The Flywheel Concept from *Good to Great*
Jim Collins introduced the flywheel concept in his book Good to Great to illustrate how significant transformations are not the result of one dramatic push but rather a series of consistent, deliberate actions. A flywheel, as Collins describes, is a heavy, rotating disk that requires great effort to get moving at first. However, with consistent pushing in the same direction, the flywheel eventually builds momentum and spins effortlessly. This symbolizes how sustained effort, focused strategy, and small wins compound over time to create breakthrough results.
The key takeaway from the flywheel is the power of persistence and alignment. It emphasizes that success stems from consistent progress rather than sudden leaps. Each small push, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time, contributes to long-term transformation. By focusing on disciplined action and refusing to waver or lose focus, the flywheel begins to turn, demonstrating that greatness is achieved through perseverance and intentional work, not by chance or a single defining moment.
Recovering From Setbacks
Failure is inevitable, but how you respond matters more than the failure itself. The key to recovery is mindset. Instead of spiraling into self-defeat, ask yourself:
- Why did this setback occur?
- What small adjustment can I make to prevent it in the future?
Then, refocus.
Real-Life Case Studies
- David Goggins: Known for his relentless mental toughness, Goggins overcame obesity, racism, and a lack of confidence to become a Navy SEAL and ultramarathon runner. His achievements weren’t born of motivation but disciplined action.
- Serena Williams: Her rise as one of the world’s greatest tennis players wasn’t fueled by innate talent alone—it was her regimented training routines, dedication, and discipline that elevated her game.
The Lifelong Journey of Discipline
Discipline is a skill, not an innate trait. Just as you train your body in the gym, you can train your mind to become disciplined. Begin with small, consistent changes. Develop habits and routines. Most importantly, be patient.
Motivational Takeaway
You have the power to transform your life by committing to unshakable discipline. Start small, stay consistent, and celebrate progress. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve over time.
Self-Directed Learning Question:
- What systems, habits, or routines can you implement today to move closer to achieving your goals? Write them down and commit to one small change this week.
