Becoming A Leader by Myles Munroe

Author:Myles Munroe
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Whitaker House
Published: 2008-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Discipline Yourself for Your Purpose

The highest form of government is self-government. Leaders have a deep dedication to personal discipline. They adhere to self-imposed limits so they may be certain to achieve their visions. They do not want to lose out by pursuing personal indulgence rather than the fulfillment of their purposes.

Are you self-disciplined? Do you impose high standards and strict parameters on yourself for the sake of fulfilling your purpose and vision? The following are some key characteristics of personal discipline.

Characteristics of Personal Discipline

Delayed Gratification

Self-discipline means patiently waiting for the right and best results in life. Too many people want to rush the process—whether it is in regard to forming relationships, obtaining possessions, or achieving success—and they pursue an immediate “reward.” A leader settles only for what is best in regard to his relationship with the Creator and his purpose and vision. He has learned when to reject immediate gratification for the sake of gaining greater benefits in the future.

Self-Sacrifice

Leaders are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of service. They think more about those whom they are serving through their visions than about their own comfort. Entertainment and relaxation are not their principal goals in life. While they are aware that their bodies and minds need times of renewal and refreshing, they make the best use of their time that they can.

In addition, when leaders make decisions, they are aware of the consequences of those decisions in relation to their goals. There are only so many hours in a day. When we choose to be involved in one activity, we are making the choice not to be involved in another activity. When we decide to put our resources in one place, we are making a decision not to put our resources in another place. Leaders understand the principle of priorities in relation to their visions. We will talk more about choices in chapter twelve, “Manage Your Priorities.”

The Pursuit of Excellence

A leader disciplines himself in the pursuit of excellence; he shuns mediocrity. He strives to develop his skills and talents and to gain relevant knowledge and wisdom in order to accomplish his vision. While others allow laziness or apathy to set in, leaders discipline themselves to keep moving toward their goals by tapping into their original passions and accepting responsibility for completing tedious or difficult tasks. Leaders mold themselves to obtain what is best for their lives and will not settle for less.

Not Compromising for the Sake of Popularity

It can sometimes take a great amount of personal integrity and discipline to withstand the temptation to compromise your vision for the sake of temporary popularity and others’ approval. If you are easily influenced by other people, regardless of your personal convictions, this is a characteristic you particularly need to focus on eliminating. True leaders cannot compromise their visions so that others will like them or so that they will not have to deal with opposition. When Nehemiah was fulfilling his God-given vision of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem following the

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