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.
Reese Baloutine
I had to build that for myself. It’s hard working alone and having to set your own pace and deadlines. I’ve found that creating due dates for each phase of a project gives me something to work toward and helps keep things moving. I’d also tell my clients when to expect something from me, so I had to deliver.
When I first started out on my own, I used to imagine former bosses I respected were looking over my work. I’d try to see it through their eyes and critique it based on what I thought they would say. Once I started bringing on team members, I made up a persona we could all picture to help guide the standard we were aiming for. That became Martha Stewart. Read More>>
Darby Bright
My self-discipline comes from a mix of life experience, personal values, and—if we’re looking through an astrological lens—the unique blueprint I was born with. Astrologically, my natal chart reflects that drive in a big way. I have a 10th house Capricorn stellium—Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—all clustered around my Capricorn Midheaven. The 10th house rules career, public image, and long-term goals, so this Capricorn concentration gives me a natural focus on achievement, structure, and legacy. Saturn grounds me in responsibility, Uranus pushes me to innovate, and Neptune inspires me to align my work with a bigger vision. On top of that, my Mercury in Virgo in the 6th house sharpens my attention to detail and keeps me organized in my daily habits. Read More>>
Natalia Yi
When I was younger, I believed that everything in life—work, success, community—would just happen on its own. I thought life simply unfolds whether you actively create it or not. Back then, I studied in the evenings, had a chaotic schedule, and slept whenever I wanted, assuming it would all somehow work out.
But as the years passed, I began to notice that nothing comes just because you think about it. It’s not enough to keep dreams in your mind—you have to actively build them. That realization was a turning point for me. I slowly started to work on myself. The first step was creating a schedule, then becoming more mindful about what I eat. Later, I started paying attention to the people I surrounded myself with and how I spent my time, etc. Read More>>
Alicia Han
My self discipline comes from a gentle relationship I’ve built with myself. I often treat myself like a child I’m taking care of. So, instead of pushing myself with strict tules, I’ve learned to motivate myself with kindness and small rewards. For example, whenever I feel stuck or unmotivated, I’ll tell myself, “Let’s just draw for five minutes.” That tiny beginning usually helps me overcome the hardest part — getting started. Read More>>
DFRNT MIX
The discipline I set on myself to be able to work at my best, comes from lessons instilled into me growing up by my taekwondo/karate teachers. Black belt mentality is the term in order to be able to do anything without anyone having to give you a push; you push yourself. Read More>>
Wesley Holloway
I think my self-discipline was forged long before I ever stepped into the business world. Growing up in Oklahoma City, the youngest of three boys meant I learned early that if I wanted to be heard, I had to be persistent, and if I wanted to win… I had to work for it. Read More>>
Shaley Moreira
Being a writer takes a lot of self discipline. For years, I told myself I was going to be an author one day. From the ripe age of 12, being an author was my goal. At the old age of 27, I realized being an author was still my dream, but I wasn’t doing anything to work towards that. I read Stephen King’s book On Writing, and wow. It gave me the push I needed. My dreams would never come to fruition if I wasn’t doing anything about them. I started writing immediately after I read that book. I wrote before work, after work, during lunch breaks. My first book was awful, but I’d done it. My first book gave me the confidence that I could write a book and I could do it again. I’ve written a book every year since then. Read More>>
Alan
I was fortunate enough to attend Southern California Military Academy in the 1970’’s in Signal Hill, CA. We were tought self disciplined and structure under our school commandant, Colonel Aden.. I started boxing at a very young age and discipline was a key factor in the sport. I was up around 4am in the morning and would run two to three miles to start off my day before school while attending Banning High School in Wilmington, Ca and eventually transfering to Carson High School Discipline in my personal opinion is a must in sports or running a business or sitting down to write a book. Read More>>
Jiahang Wei
I believe my self-discipline was shaped early on by the circumstances of my upbringing. I was born in a middle-class family in Beijing — my parents came from rural backgrounds and worked hard to change the course of their lives. When they sent me to an international school at a young age, it quietly set the expectation that I would study abroad. But because they didn’t have the same educational experience themselves, I had to figure out most things on my own. Their parenting style was relatively hands-off, which meant I had to rely on myself — especially in unfamiliar academic or cultural situations. Read More>>
Breanna Diaz
My self-discipline comes from knowing that it’s hard to please everyone, so I focus on personal goals and achievements that I can truly appreciate. When you rely on others for motivation, it often comes from a place of their own self-interest. That’s why I take responsibility for pushing myself, celebrating both the small and big wins, and reflecting on how far I’ve come. Seeing the progress I’ve made through my own determination is motivation in itself. Read More>>
