Drew Gerber, CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., asks, are you disciplined?.

1. Discipline
Have you ever noticed that as soon as you commit to something, everything that is NOT that
thing shows up in spades?
For example, say you commit to working on your spare tire or muffin top. (Not that I’d
personally know, but I have a friend…) Then what do you see, constantly, day in and day
out? It’s not that you hadn’t noticed your muffin top before, but now it appears front and
center, just staring at you while rolling over the top of your jeans.
Or when you decide you need a new car? Immediately you notice different vehicles out
there; makes you’d never heard of, amazing colors, hybrids, electric cars, etc., and you begin
to get more present to everything your current car is not. All the little flaws that were really no
biggie before are now an issue; the tiny rip in the seat becomes a major annoyance and
exactly the reason you need a new one.
The same is true for committing to being a different way or taking on a new discipline. You
commit you’ll be nicer to your local Starbucks barista. But the next time you go in for your
venti triple shot vanilla skinny latte, he or she only gives you a grande. Or you’re given the
middle seat on a fully booked flight. Or you commit to not reading your emails until noon,
then “accidently” open it and see there’s an urgent message from a client. What do you do?
Yes, it can be discouraging. But right there is your opportunity. The question becomes, what
choice will you make? Because it’s in that moment where you do get to choose what path
you’ll go down.
In my experience, this can be overwhelming and can get you stuck.
Here’s an example from my life. At the beginning of 2013, I created a theme for the
year: Freedom through Discipline; to wake up and enliven the world. I was fully committed to
having a breakthrough in being disciplined and I would take on these three areas:
1. Be more focused at work by selecting three key tasks each day to move my company
forward.
2. Adopt the Paleo Diet.
3. Meditate every day.
When I created my theme in January while in Dubrovnik, Croatia, I was super excited and so
inspired I even deluded myself into thinking my action plan would be a breeze. Guess what?
It hasn’t been a breeze. In fact, unfortunately, I’m more present than ever to how disciplined I
am not!
But here are my choices: argue with the laws of the universe (I think we all know how that’ll
turn out), quit, or keep standing for what I truly am committed to. And while I’m not 100%

2. disciplined, I’m more disciplined than I’ve ever been. I’m meditating on a regular basis and,
rather than going to the unconscious, my commitments are front and center.
I’m not perfect, but I have noticed that having a different and “perfect” life is highly overrated.
—
About the Author:
For 30 years, L. Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. As the
CEO of Wasabi Publicity, lauded by the likes of PR Week and Good Morning America, he
sparks “aha” conversations that lead to personal and business success. His PR firm is known
for landing clients on Dr. Phil, Oprah, Anderson Cooper, the Wall Street Journal, Inc.,
Entrepreneur, and other top media outlets. Wasabi Publicity lives to launch conversations
that make a difference and change the world. Contact Drew at
AskDrew@PublicityResults.com or visit his blog at www.DestinationAha.com.