One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some of the most inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs where their self-discipline comes from.

Isabella Altilio

Since a very young age, I have been actively involved in extracurricular activities like dance, swimming, and gymnastics. Balancing these commitments with my academic responsibilities taught me early on how to manage my time effectively and prioritize my tasks. I believe my self-discipline is largely rooted in how I was raised — my parents made sure I was exposed to different responsibilities from a young age, encouraging me to be reliable and to follow through on all of my commitments. Over time, this practice of organizing my time and consistently showing up — whether someone was watching or not — has deeply shaped how I approach my personal and professional life today. Read More>>

Sophia Grace Daniel

My self discipline came from knowing that in the end I would l be successful with the book and proud of myself. My mom encouraged me to work on the process at least ten minutes a day. Even though sometimes some days were harder than others, I knew in the end my self discipline would pay off. Read More>>

Shureice Kornegay

I want it all. And I know that I am the only person who can give it to me. I feel there’s equal risk in taking risks and not trying at all. You might as well pick the level of difficulty that will at the very least result in a more fulfilling life for yourself. Read More>>

Travis Borkenhagen

My self-discipline comes from two, relatively related concepts. First, my passion for success and second, the gratification that comes from accomplishment. There is something innate in all of us, a natural will to succeed, to strive for more, to push further. For some, that will is greater than others. I believe that this concept is more “nature”, than “nurture”. Which is to say, it’s not an urge that can really be taught, at least not completely. I’ve never been the one to naturally build muscle or side-step the flu but, I’ve always been the one to put as much effort as possible, into accomplishing those feats. I am not the smartest person but, I spend a lot of my time learning and contemplating. This isn’t really something that I choose to do, if anything it’s a blessing as much as a curse. After all is said and done, “at the end of the day”, it’s all because I truly care. I care about our clients, I care about the results, I can about making a positive difference in people lives. Read More>>

Aleta Wagner

I’ve always had drive and determination as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family with 5 brothers and we were all very competitive. I also started studying martial arts at a young age, becoming an instructor in my early teens, competing several times per year, and also trained, traveled and performed with the Ernie Reyes World Action Team throughout high school and college. With my busy schedule, working, studying, training and competing, I had to compartmentalize and get things done. My parents never forced perfection on me, but I developed my own sense of focus and self-discipline to succeed in all of my endeavors. Read More>>

Jessica Leigh

Self discipline is a way to express self love. I think I realized at a young age that no one is coming to save you, no one is coming to do the work for you to get you to where you want to go. It’s a mindset that you need to have. Once you feel that shift in your mind everything changes. Motivation won’t always be present, that’s where self discipline comes into action. I think I always knew that if I wasn’t going to be the one to push myself daily then I was not going to accomplish my goals and have the life that I always wanted. Boxing really taught me a lot of self discipline, they say it’s the loneliest sport in the world. It’s a lot of training, doing the same thing everyday, constant reps, all while seeing no progress right away but knowing that there is a bigger picture as to why you continue to show up. I believe that applies to a lot of areas of life. It’s about the journey, not the destination. Read More>>

Sōlful Hornz

Most of our self discipline comes from growing up in the church. Our background in marching band played a big part as well. Read More>>

Sheila Slick, MS

Entrepreneurship taught me early that self-discipline isn’t optional, it’s essential. My self-discipline was truly put to the test when I decided to learn coding in my mid-thirties. I had already established two businesses, but I felt this yearning for continued growth and education. I remember watching my son play with his new iPod Touch, amazed at how apps worked with just a swipe of his finger. That’s when I thought, ‘I want to create something like this.’ Read More>>

Amanda Henke

I’m a former entrepreneur and current writer. I think I’ll always have a little bit of that entrepreneurial spirit, and I love to discuss ideas for products, brands and design with others who have sought out my advice. I earned my BA and MBA from The College of St. Scholastica, with a focus in Communication and Marketing. In 2012, my then-husband and I purchased a small business in southern Minnesota, producing caramels and popcorn. The company—Annie B’s, had excellent products but outdated branding. My first order of business was to work on a rebrand and updated packaging. This brand refresh caught the attention of Oprah’s creative director, Adam Glassman, at a large confection convention in Atlanta. We had about three and a half months to prove that our product was worthy of Oprah’s stamp of approval, and eventual placement in the November 2014 issue of O Magazine, the infamous “Oprah’s Favorite Things” issue. We got in! And it changed our lives. When Oprah’s “Favorite Things” were made public, Annie B’s sales spiked with a 75 percent increase over the same period the previous year, and website orders soared over 700 percent. It was a whirlwind of a time, and a great learning experience. Read More>>