Only the disciplined are free.

This is a quote that I got from Steve Chandler.  He taught me many things.  He changed the course of my business. He empowered me to embrace what Simon T. Bailey once called my “twisted view of life and business.” lol…    The article below  will detail the 10 Rules I live my life by — my response to the truth that “Only the disciplined are free.”  Because there is — in fact — a special, sexy magic that’s created between rules and freedom.

You see what DRIVES  me, what has ALWAYS driven me is FREEDOM.  First and foremost, I want time freedom.  I do not want to be and will not be owned by any one client, job, boss, hobby.   I also want to be free to make choices that align with my core convictions – absent outside interference.  Gratefully, I live in America where this freedom, albeit threatened on many levels, is still very much a reality.  I also want “space freedom.”  This means that my home and my office need to be surrounded by OPEN SPACE — space enough to roam and wander and not run into people.  Lastly, I want money freedom.   What I’ve learned is that Money freedom buys time freedom, and time freedom buys money freedom.

But only when you’re disciplined.  Only the disciplined are free.

I resisted discipline when it came to my business.  I didn’t want a “job” with “rules” and a schedule. I hate that crap. I wanted FREEDOM.

Only the disciplined are free.

“But what about me?” was the question I wrestled with in my mind…. did this apply to ME?  The “freedom seeking” hippie? Does this “rule” apply to me?  Was the freedom I wanted, sought and worked for located just on the other side of a field of rules?   And if it was, did I still want it?  What about me?  Couldn’t I be that ONE exception to the stable of exceptional business success stories?

Only the disciplined are free.

To my former coach’s credit, I came to realize that YES, this rule — like gravity — applied to me.  To my initial frustration, I came to realize that I would NOT be that exception.

Only the disciplined are free.

Only through RUTHLESS discipline during my work hours could I have time and mental freedom once I shut the doors to my office and began being that “stay at home” mom again.

Only the disciplined.  Only the ruthless.

And so it came to be that I developed my own set of rules, never before shared publicly. I didn’t start out with 10.  I’ve amended and expanded them over the years.   I encourage you to google “morning rituals” and “day scripting” and begin to create your own set of NEVER BROKEN rules to live (and do business) by.

Only the disciplined are free.

The Rules I Live By — Michelle Pippin

1. I am guided by the truth that “it will all be over soon.”  Because it will.  The good times — and the bad — are fleeting.  I do not want to waste a moment of the good times, because they will be over soon.  And I do not want to give too much merit to the bad times, because they too are temporary.
2. Relationship over religion.  My God calls me by name and my relationship with my Savior is personal to me.  I have an unshakeable faith in a God that has shown up in ways that — well — made my faith literally unshakeable.  I won’t ever debate this point with you.
3. Relationship trumps being right.  I have honestly given up my need to prove myself right.  Perhaps my need to prove myself at all.  =)  I will walk away from relationships that are toxic, but I will no longer fight to be “right.” It’s a recipe for wasted time and stress… and my tolerance for both is nearly zero.
4. I “script” my days.  I script my days in a narrative about what I WANT to achieve that day.   I script my days in my calendar as well. Everything has a start and end time.
5. I will not allow someone else’s attitude or actions to determine who I am.   This is important.  There are times I do for people who wouldn’t spit on me if I were on fire.  I will not allow their behavior to dictate my own.  My behavior is up to me.  Who I am as a wife, sister, mother, friend, coach, business owner, etc…. can’t be determined by someone else behaving badly.  That’s on them.  My own actions are on me.
6. I’ll always take personal responsibility for ALL circumstances — good and bad.  I’m not saying I’ll take 100% responsibility, but some measure of it.  Why?  Because if I’m the cause, I’m also free to be the solution. But ONLY when i’m the cause.
7. I will always measure what matters.   This goes for my marriage, my weight, my finances.  If I’m focused on a specific result, I’m measuring SOMETHING.  That’s how you know I’m committed to that something. If I’m not measuring, it doesn’t matter.
8. I will always have a plan for any worthy goal.  Again, if I don’t have a plan, that’s a sign that I’m only giving a goal lip service.  Any goal worthy of my attention will be a stretch goal, and I will have to plan accordingly. Plans make goals become achievements.
9. I will always protect what is mine.  Ruthlessly and without apology or explanation.   There is an invisible fence around my home, my marriage and my children.  You will know if you ever get too close to it.  Because I will meet you personally.  No one will come in my stead.  It will be me, and I will always protect what is most dear to me — to the best of my ability. =)
10. I will never stop working on my own personal growth. While at times, I do get a bit nostalgic,  I do not desire to be 21 again.  I do not desire to go back in time.  I do not desire to be the same tomorrow as I am today.  In fact, my commitment is to have the opposite be true… to be different every single day.  I’ve got too much growing to do to remain “the same.”

So, that’s my list. Would you care to share your own? What are your thoughts on this more personal type of post for our blog? You asked for more about me, my ability to balance, etc… so… do you still want this sort of thing? Let me know!