Many of the most impressive entrepreneurs and creatives in our community exhibit a high degree of self-discipline and so we asked some of them to share their backstories of how they developed their self-discipline.

Fatemeh Fani Fani

My self-discipline is deeply rooted in the personal and collective histories that shape my identity as an Iranian woman and an artist. Growing up in an environment where expression was often stifled, I learned early on that the act of creation itself could be a form of resistance. This has instilled in me a relentless drive to push boundaries, not only in my work but in how I live. My discipline comes from understanding that every moment is precious, every opportunity to create is a privilege, and that my art carries the weight of both my personal journey and the broader narrative of those whose voices have been silenced. Read More>>

Delilah Giron

I learned self-discipline early—not by choice, but by circumstance. Watching my mom throw away everything and seeing how that affected our lives forced me to grow up fast. I was passed from one family member to the next, often without either of my parents around, and I knew deep down I wanted more. I never wanted to live the way we did growing up. That experience taught me to be self-reliant, focused, and relentless in going after what I want. I’ve fought hard for the life I’m building, because I refuse to repeat the cycle I came from. Read More>>

Soranda Louis

My self discipline comes from being enrolled in academically competitive schools. Every school I have attended from Kindergarten all the way through college, challenged me to excel and stay determined and consistent in all things that I do. I also had several school teachers in my family who would assist me with my schoolwork, a hardworking mother who was a police officer, and a militant father who was a hardworking immigrant. So, as you can see it certainly took a village to raise me into the self-disciplined woman I am today. Read More>>

 DRA. RAQUEL RUBIN

I love that you use the term self-discipline. I wonder how many people are aware of the difference between discipline and self-discipline. I certainly wasn’t aware of that difference while I studied biology nor when I studied dentistry. In both cases discipline was required to achieve them, however I wasn’t being self-disciplined and there were several times that I was sleep deprived. Self discipline is an essential building block of a concept that I love to talk about: self leadership. For me the formula is: self discipline plus mindset and values equals self leadership. Read More>>

Charla McKinley

My self-discipline was shaped by growing up as an only child in Midland, a quiet West Texas town where life was steady and predictable—very different from the big dreams I held. Because the path I envisioned didn’t exist around me, I learned early to rely on myself to create it. I came from a broken home, with an unemployed father who was rarely around. Neither of my parents had a college education, and we faced significant financial struggles throughout my childhood. Read More>>

Mariya Devuyst

For me, my self-discipline began with my parents. My father especially taught me what it truly means to be disciplined.

As an immigrant, my dad arrived in this country with very little other than hopes and dreams. He left everything familiar behind, not because it was easy, but because he dreamed of something bigger for our family. I watched him work tirelessly, never expecting life to hand him anything — and yet always showing up with strength, humility, and purpose. Read More>>