STRATEGIC DISCIPLINE

I don't know about you, but I am wired to always be looking for more efficient and productive ways to do things. I don’t think I am alone either. Productivity is a buzzword today. Peruse any bookstore or search through the kindle/audible selection and you will find many books claiming to make you more productive in your life. This self-help phenomenon promises a lot: getting more done, being more fulfilled at work, and maybe even making your workspace more ergonomic and aesthetic.

Truthfully, I am often sucked down these rabbit holes of different note-taking and second-brain style videos/books/podcasts and while I would consider myself an above average person when it comes to productivity, I really wonder how much these productivity hacks actually helped in my overall workflow. Hacks like the pomodoro technique to forming an intense web of content catchers so I never forget anything can seem cool, but are they really all they are cracked up to be?

In my estimation, there really are no such things as productivity hacks. What actually matters is strategic discipline. What's the difference? A hack looks for a quick fix to a problem. Strategic Discipline seeks to understand why it is a problem and address the issue at its core. Hacks require little sacrifice. Strategic Discipline is willing to change a way of life for the greater good of what your goal is.

You might wonder at this point, why does all of this matter? Well, time is limited. It's a resource we are all losing, yet none of us truly know how much of it we have left. Therefore, we must make the most of the time we have. From a theological perspective, being disciplined in life is necessary. Paul says in Ephesians 5:15-16...

[15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (ESV)

Meaning, time is limited and the times we live in are serious, so don't waste time.

So strategic discipline, what does that look like? Strategic discipline starts by asking the question, who has God called me to be? Followed by, what does he want me to do? Lastly, what stands in the way of me doing that that needs to be removed?

You see, some hacks might be necessary, but we are drilling down to the foundational issues in our life that prevent us from being the people we are called to be. 

So a question for you to consider: what rhythms of life are you currently practicing that are causing you to become someone you don’t desire to be? What rhythms of life do you need to initiate to cultivate the person you know God has called you to be? The answer to those questions will determine what strategic discipline looks like for you. Ditch the hacks.