Here are 5 principles that keep me disciplined enough to be my own boss.
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What do I want long term?
If I want more freedom, both with my time and financially, I have to take action today. I recognize that what I’m doing now — the amount that I’m working specifically — isn’t how it always needs to be. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be this way now but working extra time now means I can be doing less more quickly because of the systems I have in place. I address this with my husband — we both talk about what we want long term. While he hasn’t always understood my work-at-home plight, he does now and did more quickly because we 1. Talked about it together and 2. Because we’ve seen others we know making it happen. When you see success from others, it means there’s hope that it’s possible for you, too.
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Who do I want to be?
This one is extremely important for me. If you’re aligned with your core values and who you believe you are, it’s a lot easier to follow through.
Who I want to be is someone of high integrity, who works hard, who cares about others, and dose an excellent job even when no one is watching.
If this is who you believe you are too, you’ll find yourself doing the work even when you don’t feel ike it because that’s just who you are.
You might not be there yet — I wasn’t for a long time. In fact, most of my life I would say I was someone who was flighty, not committed, and not a woman of her word.
Then I decided I didn’t like that. It wasn’t who I wanted to be anymore — it wasn’t in alignment with my core values. So I started to change. I did so by making sure I did what I said I was going to do no matter what. It was really hard and annoying at first because it was uncomfortable – a change from my norm. But by continuing to make that choice of following through and doign the thing when I had the chance, it was evidence that supported that that was the kind of person I was becoming.
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How will this help others?
Thinking about the bigger picture helps me get through all kinds of tasks — both the ones that I love doing and feel excited and energized by, but also through the tasks that are more mundane.
If I don’t do the work I need to do, there are going to be people who desperately want to leave teaching or start a work-at-home career and need to hear what I have to say… just waiting. I know how much better it is on this side of the classroom, so I don’t want to hold up anyone else in achieving their goals, too.
4. Not doing it is not an option.
It need to get done- not getting done is not an option. If I want to have a weekend off, I must get my work done during the week. Because other people are relying on me, not getting my work done would affect them but also the people we are serving. I don’t want to be the reason someone else can’t have the weekend off or the reason someone doesn’t get the information they need to succeed!
5. When I am feeling consistently restless, I take time off.
There are times where I feel consistently restless or consistently frustrated. When I notice that happening, it’s a good indication it’s time for me to take a break. I normally schedule a few days off and I completely unplug. No work allowed. 🙂 I try to schedule some emails to go out ahead of time so the people that need to hear my message still have the opportunity to hear it, but I can still refresh and recharge.
I really resisted the idea of a recharge for a long time, but I’ve found that I can come back with more passion, purpose, and drive when I take time off.
Our take
Working from home is possible even if you wouldn’t consider yourself disciplined in the past. Much of the time the skill that you’re lacking (including the skill of discipline!) is just a matter of practice, patience and time.
Your turn
So what about you? Do you think you could figure out how to be disciplined enough to be your own boss? Click here to take me free 2-week productivity challenge today. It comes straight to your inbox and is what you need to get started today!
