My thought process at the start: cliche. Common sense. Boring. Duh. Cliche. My thought process at the end: Tell me *more* oh great guru! The problem with these motivational texts in my world is that they are only motivational while I am actively reading it. After that...eh. ( )

Rory Vaden discusses why success requires self-discipline. By looking for short-cuts (i.e., the escalator), we are actually making our lives worse. Procrastination only exacerbates our problems, and shortcuts require more work in the end. Vaden expands on this idea:

“Our unwillingness to take action in our own individual lives might not seem like a global problem. But as our procrastination ripples through our homes, our schools, our communities, and our culture at large, we find our country becoming a ProcrastiNation unwilling to take on the tough challenges we face, and seeking immediate gratification instead of real growth and change.”

The most important message I got from Vaden’s book is to concentrate on your actions, not your results. Your everyday activities are within your power. Take pride in your stellar effort, and let go of the anxiety attached to the results. There are many things outside of your control (e.g. disease or injury) that can interrupt your progress. Put your self-esteem into your work habits; regardless in the outcome, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you did everything within your control. ( )