Structure Discipline: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

To structure discipline is to consciously and consistently create an environment favorable for the completion of the discipline. The conditions in which you structure discipline are constantly changing – they may be ideal, less than ideal, or completely chaotic. Some of my super positive friends might might refer to this as “good, better, best.” I prefer…

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood. It’s a brilliant and entertaining depiction of how life wasn’t always ideal in the Old West.

The phrase also lends itself to three scenarios to consider when setting up a structure for discipline.

Structure Discipline: The GOOD

This is your ideal scenario. Most of us have a schedule that is somewhat repetitive at least some of the time. Get out your calendar and look at the next six weeks. What is the ideal time of day, length of time and place for your discipline on a daily or weekly basis? Lock this in for as many days as possible.

Structure Discipline: The BAD

The BAD. Life is often less than ideal. You’re out of town, traveling, have guests in town, it’s a holiday… your standard operating procedure has been compromised in some way. Given this, how can you adjust the structure for discipline in such a way that you still make it happen?

Example: I don’t like exercising in the morning. Afternoon or evening, “GOOD”. Morning, “BAD.” But inevitably there are times when my schedule dictates that morning is the only viable option. So here’s what I do. I put my workout clothes and shoes by the side of the bed. The coffee, water, and workout drink is ready to go. I know exactly what I’m doing the next day for the workout. If need be I can be on the bike, moving a weight, or out the door in less than 2 minutes.

The key here is to prepare in advance for the known “BAD” condition. What are the known vacations, changes in schedule, and other deviations from your “normal” schedule and/or environment? What shifts are needed?

Structure Discipline: The UGLY

As the song goes, “It ain’t always pretty, it ain’t always fun.” Sometimes all hell breaks loose and you feel like you’re in a shootout at the OK Corral. Consider the possibility that you can still structure discipline while dodging bullets.

Your disciplines should be “do-able” in the face of the unexpected (see Performance Standards). Assuming they are usually you can find a way to complete them even in very challenging conditions. And when you do, you strengthen personal power and integrity.

• Take a stand that your commitments are greater than your circumstance. Standing from here you will find a way.
• Use pockets of time wisely. A lunch break, the waiting room, the time on a plane… could you do your discipline here if someone had a gun to your head (sticking with our Western metaphor of course).
• Just check the box. Don’t worry about this being the best execution of all time of the discipline. Do the work- imperfectly, begrudgingly,

It ain’t always pretty, it ain’t always fun.”

The (unofficial) Tough Mudder Song

Conditions change. To maintain your discipline, structure it for the good, bad and the ugly.

See also: FRAME Discipline