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.

Nathan TwoEagles-Downing

My self-discipline comes from my time in the Marine Corps, and growing up up with a single parent who rocked two jobs all the time. I’ve spent enough time watching others stumble through life, not understanding that it takes discipline to stay on the right course. It’s through my self-discipline that I found that I can almost do the impossible, like telling people how I was able to bring a South African martial arts instructor to the US on a Visa and have him share his art with us all.  Read More>>

Maddy Kelman

My self discipline comes from a deep desire to succeed in my craft. Growing up in the theatre, the lesson of never giving up got ingrained into my personality. I learned it was okay to fail, but to keep going. Those lessons stayed with me and they have been invaluable to my startup. Read More>>

Janin Anna Matt

…from finding pleasure in learning new things, my stubbornness to succeed, and the necessity to grow and become better.

As actors, we are constantly reminded that we can change and create who we want to be as a person. I soon figured out that this also applies to life in general. We can literally reinvent ourselves every day, change things we don’t like, and work on things we do.

Eileen Pappas

Self-discipline is a funny concept, and something I learned a great deal about when I started training to run my first marathon. I had never been an athlete, much less a runner, but after having come out to cheer for a friend who ran the NYC marathon one year, I was so inspired and thought to myself, “I want to be on the other side of this – to have a million strangers cheering for me, too.”  Read More>>

Nate Tutas

Have you ever had one of those moments where either all or part of your life flashes through your mind in an instant? I had that happen to me nearly 13 years ago and it changed my life forever.

My wife and I had recently gotten a Siberian Husky puppy, which was a breed of dog I’d wanted since I was a kid. Shortly after we got him home I was on the ground playing with him. Read More>>

Laura Licursi

Honestly, I think my self-discipline comes from always having a goal in mind. Whether it’s something personal or professional, I’m constantly working toward something, and that gives me a clear sense of direction. I don’t do well just floating through the day without a purpose—so having that goal keeps me grounded and focused. Read More>>

Vincent Benitez

I always feel that motivation from different sources (memes, quotes, people) comes in waves. It is why I feel that when motivation fails, discipline will always prevail. However, you cannot just obtain self-discipline with a snap of a finger, it is developed over time. The key is to be consistent. It may sound ordinary but it is the truth. From the beginning of my martial arts training, my teacher would be my greatest motivator but he can do so much.  Read More>>

Enzo Parziale

Our self discipline, as a band, comes from our drive to become the thing we’ve always wanted to be. For our entire lives, we’ve always looked up to the best bands and musicians of all time and dreamt of someday being like them. The only thing we knew was that we won’t stop until we make that dream a reality. We don’t know how exactly it’ll happen or what will happen along the way but no matter what, all we know is there’s no other universe without becoming that dream. Read More>>

Luis Araya

Self-discipline for me is all about trying to become better every day, whether it’s learning something new or improving on what I already know. It’s that constant drive to keep leveling up, and I feel that it’s always been in me. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant from Chile, I had to mature quickly. Since I understood the American system the most, I ended up taking on a lot of responsibilities early on—helping my parents figure things out or handling stuff they weren’t familiar with. A funny example is when I was 10, I was already translating legal documents for my parents. Read More>>

Jesus Sanchez

I’d say it’s one of the most important things I learned from my parents and people around me, they always taught me to be the best in anything i tried. I also practiced sports most of my life and discipline is something that impacts sports as much as life itself. Read More>>