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.
Anna Dupre
Being raised by a mother who was an academic and teacher and a father who worked even before he graduated high school, I was raised with a sense of strong work-ethic and discipline. One of the biggest lessons my parents instilled in me was the idea of doing your best in all that you do; even if your best lands you not at the top, you can still find comfort in knowing your own efforts. Read More>>
Carlos Vivero
My self-discipline comes from a mix of my upbringing and my personal experiences. I’ve always believed that consistency and follow-through are what separate ideas from results. Over the years, I’ve learned that discipline isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up every day, even on the hard days, and doing the work that needs to be done. A lot of my drive also comes from knowing that what I do makes a difference for others—whether it’s for my clients, my community, or my family. That sense of responsibility fuels me to stay focused and keep pushing forward. Read More>>
Devonric Johnson
One of the most essential qualities I’ve developed is self-discipline, and it really started for me through sports. I was a Division I football player, and that environment doesn’t allow you to slack — you have to show up every day, whether you feel like it or not. Early morning practices, weight training, film study — it taught me that preparation is non-negotiable if you want to perform at a high level. Read More>>
Marta Riva
I work as a freelancer, so self-discipline wasn’t an option for me! I have always been the type of person who likes to be independent in every aspect of my life, and developing self-discipline was a fundamental aspect of that. I wanted to be able to do whatever I want by myself and be in a position to keep pursuing my goals. For sure sports and the university helped me a lot to develop these skills, and shaped me as a very determined and persistent person. Read More>>
Marisa Sage
I think I was born with it! As a kid, my self-discipline showed up in gymnastics and caring for animals. I started training seriously as a gymnast at age 7 and became a vegetarian at 9 (and I still am at 46). Over time, my passions have shifted, but that self-discipline has always stayed with me. For me, self-discipline and passion go hand in hand. Read More>>
Sara Lam
My self-discipline is rooted in faith, not just in Islam or spiritually, but in strangers, friends, and family. Since my childhood, I’ve learned to temper and balance my body and mind, like rewarming tea on a stove. I started fasting for Ramadan when I was nine, long before puberty, to test my limits and challenge myself, following the footsteps of my parents and community, with the welcome incentive of $10 per day that I successfully fasted from sunrise to sunset, of course. Read More>>
Lisa Zipken
My decision-making skills have grown most through lived experience. Over time, I’ve learned to tell the difference between an impulse that might feel good in the moment and an intuition that actually serves my bigger purpose. That sense of alignment with purpose has become the foundation for how I choose. As Neil Strauss has pointed out, you don’t discover purpose by simply asking, “What’s my purpose?”—you find it by living and experiencing. That perspective resonates with me deeply. Read More>>
Evy Gallagher
It’s funny actually, I’ve never hesitated with big, “life-altering” decisions, but more so the little day to day decisions. What do I want to eat, what color do I want at the nail salon, other silly things like that. These are things that I don’t care about as much. I care, but I don’t CARE, if that makes sense. The big decisions I’ve made in my life — moving across the world, ending relationships, starting a community with no experience — I tend to have a very strong gut feeling about. You could also call it stubbornness, but regardless, once I get something in my head, that’s the way it’s going to be. My friends like to say I have a gift of discernment, which may be the most flattering compliment I’ve ever received. Read More>>
Rene Mondy
Thinking back on my divorce, I remember more quiet than anything else. I moved into a new space. The unforgettable first morning in an empty house, in a much smaller space, in a different neighborhood. Things were not the same. My world had changed forever, and grief set in. It hit me that I wasn’t just grieving my marriage, but also the shift in my friendships, my identity, and the way I thought life was supposed to be. Read More>>
Melanie Squadroni
After my daughter was born, within a week I fell very hard into the hole of PPD. It was a nightmare to finally be a mom and have this wonderful baby yet my brain went instantly to panic mode and I couldn’t stop crying and having sever anxiety attacks. It lasted about six months, I saw doctor after doctor and tried multiple medications that never really worked for me. A friend of mine finally said to me that what helped her was setting a schedule and sticking to it. That definitely helped immensely, but didn’t pull me out of it. Sadly the only thing that really got rid of it was going back to work. Read More>>
Chris Robinson
I am a stand up comedian, actor and writer. The most exciting thing about stand up is when I discover a new joke or tag to a joke that kills. It’s an exhilarating feeling when you are doing a joke that’s getting huge pops and you haven’t even gotten to the punchline yet. Then once the punchline hits and people lose it, it’s incredibly satisfying. Especially when you see tears in their eyes from laughter, or you hear them snort because you know they aren’t giving you pitty laughs to be nice. I like to push the boundaries as well in my comedy so when I say something particularly shocking I love the different reactions that audience members have. Read More>>
Elise Tauber
I started in real estate back in the early 2000 and enjoyed selling real estate but it wasn’t until I opened my own real estate brokerage and became a broker that I really found my calling. Getting to mentor agents of all experience levels and unique talents and get to watch them become extremely successful agents has been a plus. I have a wonderful sales team myself that focuses on helping investors start and grow their portfolios. There is immense joy helping those find a home to live in but take it a step further and achieve their dreams of investing in Real Estate. Read More>>
Kerry Rock
In my regular day job, I’m an IT guy. I’ve been in this world for 19 years now and everyday I still find new things to learn, and discover. I think that’s why I still love this job. I’m also very lucky to work with a lot of fun people, and travel a good amount for my job. In my non-profit world, I love helping. In my business world, I actually still do that, but in an IT way. I get to help solve large problems our clients have but with IT. Read More>>
