The Ten Times Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure

32. Be Disciplined
Remember: We are not just talking about money here. This refers to being
successful in all areas of life—and to do so, you will not be able to compromise
this thing called discipline. Discipline is an orderly, prescribed conduct that will
get you what you want—and it's a requirement for 10X players. Unfortunately,
most peoples' disciplines look more like bad habits instead of the—admittedly
uncomfortable—10X actions they should be taking over and over again.
Discipline is what you use to complete any activity until the activity—
regardless of how uncomfortable—becomes your normal operating procedure. In
order to ever attain and keep success, you must determine which habits are
constructive—and discipline both yourself and your group (see point 28) to do

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those things over and over again.
If you find you do not have all of the previously mentioned success traits and
habits—or you see yourself having most or some of them most of the time but
occasionally fall off a bit—no worries. I would expect that most of the people
reading this don't consistently display every single one of these qualities 
all
the
time. Become aware of what the list is, keep it close to you, and make a new
commitment to making these techniques part of 
who you are
rather than merely
something you “do.” Although I don't personally operate in the success column
100 percent of the time, I do make efforts to ensure that I spend most of my time
doing what successful people do.
None of the things on this list is a superhuman quality. Every single one is
attainable. Don't use just one or two of the techniques. Start thinking and
operating with them, and they will become a part of you. Use them all.
Chapter 23
Getting Started with 10X

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So where do you even get started with all this? What kinds of challenges might
you run into? And how do you make 10X a truly persistent discipline? All you
really have to do is look at the list of what successful people do to determine
what you need to do. When to start? Well, remember: There are only two times
that exist for successful people. You want to focus to some degree on now but
keep most of your attention on the future you desire to create. You certainly can't
start yesterday, and if you wait until tomorrow, you won't be a success because
you will have violated an important tenet of the successful: Act now and then
keep acting with the knowledge that enough actions taken now will create the
future. When successful people become lazy, they add time to their decisions. At
that point, they are probably more concerned with protecting what they have
than with creating new levels of success. And conservation of success or what to
do with it once you get it is not what this book is about!
I wrote this book at 52 years of age and have currently created enough success
for myself, only to have an appetite for more. I truly believe that I have yet to
entirely fulfill my capacity or abilities. I don't want it just for the game or the
money but mostly because I really do consider it to be an ethical obligation to
utilize my potential. Whatever—or whoever—drives you, go get it now—and
quit being reasonable with yourself.
I am undertaking a major personal and professional expansion as I write this—
all while expanding my family and my philanthropic desires. Everyone in my
organization and even my clients will tell you that when I go at something, I
always go 
now
with an unreasonable belief to do 
whatever
is necessary to hit my
targets. I am not an organizer, a great planner, or a manager. I realize that taking
action without adding time, meetings, and overanalysis is both an asset and a
deficiency. The people who know me would probably also tell you that when I
embark on a project—whether it is writing a new book, creating a seminar
program, developing a new product, starting a new workout, improving my
marriage, or spending time with my daughter—I go at it 
completely
. I'm all in,
fully committed, like a hungry dog on the back of a meat truck. I know myself
fairly well. When I get involved in something, I am completely unreasonable
with the actions I take until I get the results I want. I don't make excuses for
myself, nor do I let others make excuses.
Now means 
now
—not a minute from now. Start with first things first; make
your initial list of goals, then a list of actions that will propel you in that
direction. Then—
without
overthinking it—start taking those actions. A few
things to keep in mind as you start: