No Excuses!

No Excuses! Plot Summary

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some people consistently achieve their goals while others struggle and give up? The difference often comes down to a single quality: self-discipline. This powerful force separates those who talk about their dreams from those who actually live them. When you develop self-discipline, you gain the ability to push through discomfort, overcome procrastination, and stay focused on what truly matters. Self-discipline isn't about punishment or restriction—it's about freedom. When you can control your impulses and direct your energy toward meaningful goals, you unlock possibilities that remain forever closed to those who surrender to the path of least resistance. Throughout the following chapters, you'll discover practical strategies to strengthen your self-discipline muscle in every area of life. From clarifying your vision to building unshakable habits, from taking full responsibility to persisting through challenges, this journey will transform not just what you do, but who you become.

Chapter 1: Define Your Success Vision and Set Clear Goals

Success begins with clarity. Without a clear vision of what you want to achieve, you'll drift aimlessly, reacting to whatever life throws your way rather than creating the future you desire. Self-discipline starts with defining exactly what success means to you personally, not what others expect or society dictates. Consider the story of Bob Barton, who worked in a large company with thirty-two salespeople. As a newcomer starting at the bottom, he naturally gravitated toward the junior salespeople. However, Bob soon noticed something interesting: the top salespeople in the office associated only with each other. While the junior salespeople arrived late, drank coffee, read newspapers, and made excuses for not making sales calls, the top performers were already at their desks early, planning their days, working the phones, and making appointments. Bob made a pivotal decision. He would pattern himself after the top salespeople. He observed how they dressed and groomed, and resolved to present himself the same way. Each morning, he would stand before his mirror asking, "Do I look like one of the top salespeople in my office?" If not, he would change his clothes until he felt he looked as professional as the best. He began arriving at the office before 8:30 AM to organize his day, ready to make calls as soon as customers became available. One day, Bob approached one of the top salespeople for book or audio program recommendations. To his surprise, top performers were always willing to help others improve. The salesperson recommended resources, which Bob immediately obtained. He studied them thoroughly and reported back. This led to more advice, which Bob faithfully followed. He asked another top performer about time management, who showed him his system. Bob adopted it immediately. To implement this approach in your own life, start by writing down your goals clearly. Research shows that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them than those who merely think about them. Make your goals specific and measurable. Instead of saying "I want to be successful," specify "I want to increase my income by 25% within 12 months" or "I want to lose 15 pounds by June 30th." Remember that goals work because they activate your success mechanism. When you decide on a clear goal, you override your natural tendency to follow the path of least resistance. Like a ship with a rudder and destination rather than one drifting with the tide, you move purposefully toward what matters most. The most powerful moment in your journey toward success comes when you make the decision to pay the price for what you want. As oil billionaire H.L. Hunt said when asked about his success secret: "First, decide exactly what you want. Second, determine the price you'll have to pay. Third, and most important, resolve to pay that price."

Chapter 2: Build Unshakable Character Through Daily Habits

Character is the foundation upon which all lasting success is built. Your character—who you truly are when no one is watching—ultimately determines how far you'll go and how much you'll achieve. Self-discipline in developing your character means consistently choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear a word that you say." This profound statement captures the essence of character development. Each time you choose rightly and act consistently with your highest values, you strengthen your character. Conversely, each time you compromise or take the easy way, you weaken your character and soften your personality. Consider the story of George Washington, famous for his honesty, demonstrated in the tale where he admitted cutting down the cherry tree. While this story may be apocryphal, it represents the founding father's commitment to integrity. Similarly, when the founders signed the Declaration of Independence, they pledged "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They understood that character was worth more than life itself. In his book "Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity," philosopher Francis Fukuyama observed that societies worldwide can be divided into "high-trust" and "low-trust" categories. The highest-trust societies—those where integrity is most admired and respected—are invariably the most law-abiding, free, and prosperous. At the other end are societies characterized by tyranny, thievery, dishonesty, and corruption, which are, without exception, both undemocratic and poor. To develop your character, start by clarifying your values. What principles do you stand for? What virtues do you most admire? Write them down and review them regularly. Then, consciously practice these values in everyday situations. When faced with a choice between what's convenient and what's right, discipline yourself to choose what's right, even when it costs you something. Study the lives of people you admire, both living and historical figures. What values do they embody? How do they handle difficult situations? By immersing yourself in stories of exemplary character, you program these values deeper into your subconscious mind. The most challenging test of character comes when you're under pressure. During these moments, ask yourself: "What kind of world would this be if everyone acted as I'm about to act?" This question, based on Immanuel Kant's Universal Maxim, can guide you toward choices that strengthen rather than compromise your character. Remember that your self-esteem is directly linked to your character. When you live consistently with your highest values, you feel good about yourself. Your self-respect increases, and you experience greater personal pride. This creates an upward spiral of positive feelings and behaviors that transform you into the person you aspire to be.

Chapter 3: Take Complete Responsibility for Your Life

Taking responsibility is perhaps the most challenging form of self-discipline, yet without it, no success is possible. The moment you accept complete responsibility for everything in your life marks the beginning of true adulthood and the path to achievement. At age twenty-one, Brian Tracy lived in a tiny apartment, working as a construction laborer. He arose at 5:00 AM to take three buses to work, returning home exhausted at 7:00 PM. One evening, sitting alone at his kitchen table, a profound realization struck him: "This is my life." Not a rehearsal for something else, but the real thing. He looked at his small apartment and considered his limited prospects with no high school diploma. In that moment, he understood that unless he changed, nothing else would change. No one else would do it for him. No one else cared. This revelation transformed his life. From that day forward, he accepted increasing responsibility for everything—his job performance, finances, health, and especially his future. The very next day, he visited a bookstore during his lunch break and began his lifelong practice of investing in self-improvement. He dedicated himself to continuous learning, discovering that he could acquire any knowledge needed to accomplish any goal. To take responsibility in your own life, start by eliminating blame. The common denominator of all negative emotions—guilt, resentment, anger, fear—is blame. When you blame others for your problems, you give away your power to change them. Instead, whenever something goes wrong, immediately say, "I am responsible!" This simple statement neutralizes negative emotions and puts you back in control. This applies even to circumstances you didn't directly cause. While you may not be responsible for a hurricane destroying your home, you are responsible for how you respond to it. You are responsible for your reactions, your attitude, and the actions you take moving forward. The antidote to negative emotions is purposeful action toward your goals. When you accept responsibility and take action, you transform from a mental child who feels victimized into a mental adult who controls their destiny. This shift is evident in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, where recovery begins only when individuals accept responsibility for their problems. Responsibility extends to all areas of life. With finances, you must acknowledge that you chose your job, made the purchases that created debt, and made the investment decisions that led to your current situation. With relationships, you must recognize your role in creating harmony or discord. With health, you must accept that your current condition largely results from your choices about diet, exercise, and lifestyle. The reward for accepting responsibility is tremendous. There's a direct relationship between responsibility and control—the more responsibility you accept, the greater control you feel over your life. And the more control you feel, the more positive and happy you become. When you accept responsibility, you feel strong, powerful, and purposeful. Remember: you can make excuses or you can make progress, but you cannot do both. Choose progress by embracing complete responsibility for every aspect of your life.

Chapter 4: Master Your Time and Prioritize High-Value Activities

There is perhaps no area where self-discipline yields greater rewards than in how you manage your time. The quality of your life depends not on how much time you have—we all have the same 24 hours—but on how you invest those precious, irreplaceable hours. Robert Half International conducted a study revealing that the average employee wastes about 50% of their workday on non-work activities: 37% on idle conversation with coworkers and 13% on coming in late, leaving early, long breaks, surfing the internet, or conducting personal business. Even worse, when people finally settle down to work, they often focus on low-value tasks, creating a perpetual feeling of being behind. Consider the story of a young executive who started at the bottom of a large company. Unsure how to advance in the corporate hierarchy, he stumbled upon a simple formula: whenever his boss gave him something to do, he did it immediately. Like a dog chasing a thrown stick, he would complete the task quickly and return for more. When caught up with his work, he would approach his boss saying, "I'm all caught up. I want more responsibility." Initially, his boss would respond, "I didn't need it that quickly, but thank you." As for the request for more responsibility, the boss would say, "I'll think about what else I can give you." Yet the young man persisted daily with the same request: "I'm all caught up; I would like more responsibility." Gradually, his boss began assigning him small tasks. Whatever the assignment, the young man would complete it immediately and return for more. Within six months, the boss saw him as the "go-to guy," bypassing others to give him important assignments, knowing they would be handled promptly. This approach culminated when the boss asked him to fly to Reno to begin development work on a property the company was purchasing. Though told he could go sometime in the next couple of weeks, he left the next morning. Through his immediate investigation, he discovered the land had no water rights and was therefore undevelopable—just hours before the company would have lost $2 million on the purchase. His boss was delighted, and within a year, the young man was running three divisions with a staff of forty-two people. To master your time, start by making a list of everything you need to accomplish. Then apply the A-B-C-D-E method to set priorities: - A tasks have serious consequences for completion or non-completion - B tasks have mild consequences - C tasks have no consequences - D tasks should be delegated - E tasks should be eliminated The rule is simple: never do a B task when an A task remains undone. Never work on lower-value activities when higher-value tasks await your attention. Once you've identified your A-1 task (your most important task), discipline yourself to start on it first thing in the morning and work on it single-mindedly until completion. This practice alone can transform your productivity and career trajectory. Remember that time management is actually self-management. You cannot save time; you can only spend it differently. The key is to reallocate your time from low-value to high-value activities. This requires the self-discipline to overcome procrastination and the courage to focus on what matters most, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable.

Chapter 5: Develop Excellence in Your Career and Finances

Excellence doesn't happen by accident. It requires a deliberate decision and lifelong commitment to continuous improvement. The difference between average performers and top achievers isn't talent or intelligence—it's the disciplined pursuit of growth and mastery. In Geoffrey Colvin's bestselling book "Talent Is Overrated," he reveals that most people learn how to do their job in the first year and then never get any better. They coast, doing just enough to avoid getting fired. But coasting only works in one direction—downhill. The top performers, by contrast, dedicate themselves to continuous improvement throughout their careers. Consider the story of a young man from Detroit who attended a seminar and heard about the "3 Percent Rule"—investing 3% of your income back into yourself through books, courses, and professional development. At that time, he had dropped out of college, lived at home, drove an old car, and earned about $20,000 a year as an office-to-office salesman. He immediately implemented the rule, calculating that 3% of his $20,000 income would be $600. He invested in sales books, audio programs on sales and time management, and attended a sales seminar. That year, his income jumped to $30,000—a 50% increase he could directly attribute to applying what he'd learned. The following year, he invested 3% of his $30,000 income ($900) in himself. His income then leaped to $50,000. Encouraged by these results, he increased his self-investment to 5% ($2,500) and saw his income double to $100,000. Finally, he went "all in," committing 10% of his income to personal development—a practice he maintained for years. When asked how this investment affected his income, he smiled and said, "I passed a million dollars in personal income last year. And I still invest 10% of my income in myself every single year." To develop excellence in your own career, follow these three simple steps: 1. Read sixty minutes in your field each day, turning off distractions to focus on professional literature 2. Listen to educational audio programs during your commute, transforming your car into a "university on wheels" 3. Attend courses and seminars regularly, seeking out both in-person and online opportunities to upgrade your skills The power of compound learning, like compound interest, is remarkable. The more you learn, the more you can learn. Your memory and retention improve, and you discover connections between concepts learned at different times. For financial excellence, apply similar discipline. Start by saving just 1% of your income and learn to live on the remaining 99%. This requires only minimal self-discipline and delayed gratification. Once comfortable with this level, increase your savings to 2%, then 3%, and so on. Within a year, you'll likely be saving 10% of your income without feeling deprived. As you save, practice the "Wedge Principle" for the rest of your life. As your income increases, drive a wedge between rising income and rising expenses. Save 50% of every raise or income increase, allowing yourself to spend the other half on improving your lifestyle. Remember Albert Einstein's observation that "compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe." If you save just $100 per month from age 21 to 65 and invest it in a mutual fund averaging 7-10% annual returns, you'll accumulate more than a million dollars. The key is starting now and maintaining the discipline to continue, regardless of temporary challenges or temptations.

Chapter 6: Cultivate Healthy Relationships and Inner Peace

Relationships form the emotional core of our lives. Studies consistently show that 85% of your happiness comes from harmonious relationships with others. Yet these same relationships can also be the source of your greatest pain and frustration. Self-discipline in how you interact with others and manage your inner world is essential for lasting happiness. The deepest need every person has is to feel important and valued. Understanding this truth transforms how you approach relationships. Instead of focusing on getting others to like you, discipline yourself to make others feel important. This indirect approach paradoxically makes you more likeable and magnetic to others. Consider this story shared by a seminar participant. He had been married for several years and was an avid golfer, playing five times weekly. After having four children in quick succession, he continued his golf routine, taking time from his business during the week and playing on weekends. Eventually, his wife confronted him, explaining that he wasn't spending enough time with their young children during their most vulnerable years. This wake-up call helped him realize his life had fundamentally changed. Being responsible and self-disciplined, he immediately reduced his golf to once weekly and redirected his time and energy to his family, which dramatically improved both his marriage and relationships with his children. To cultivate healthy relationships, practice these seven ways to make others feel important: 1. Accept people as they are, without judgment or criticism 2. Show genuine appreciation for others and their efforts 3. Be agreeable rather than argumentative 4. Express admiration for people's possessions, traits, and accomplishments 5. Pay complete attention when others speak, asking questions and listening intently 6. Never criticize, condemn, or complain about others 7. Be courteous, concerned, and considerate with everyone you meet For inner peace, practice detachment from things that disturb your tranquility. The primary destroyer of inner peace is blame. When you blame others for your problems or unhappiness, you create negative emotions that poison your well-being. Instead, discipline yourself to accept responsibility for your reactions and practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is the ultimate act of self-discipline for inner peace. Contrary to popular belief, forgiveness isn't about condoning hurtful behavior—it's a selfish act that liberates you from emotional baggage. When you forgive, you're not doing it for the other person; you're doing it for yourself. Each person has a "Forgiveness Curve" that measures how quickly they let go of negative experiences. Mentally healthy people have steep, downward-sloping forgiveness curves—they process hurt quickly and move on. Those who remain angry for years have flat forgiveness curves and consequently experience less joy and more stress. The moment you accept responsibility and forgive everyone for anything they ever did to hurt you, you experience profound liberation. Negative emotions disappear, replaced by inner peace, love, and joy. This is the ultimate reward for practicing self-discipline in your emotional life.

Chapter 7: Persist Through Challenges and Never Give Up

Persistence is self-discipline in action. Your ability to persist in the face of setbacks and temporary failures is essential to success in any endeavor. As Napoleon Hill observed, "Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel." The primary difference between winners and losers is simple: winners never quit, and quitters never win. Every worthwhile achievement requires passing what might be called "the persistence test"—an unexpected challenge that tests your resolve and determination. How you respond to these inevitable tests determines your ultimate success. Consider the story of a sixty-eight-year-old woman living in a senior citizens' home who had never given much thought to physical exercise. One day, she watched a television special featuring people in their fifties and sixties running marathons, some having started running later in life. Inspired, she purchased proper walking and running shoes and began walking around her neighborhood that very day. Over the next few weeks, she gradually increased her distances. She studied books on exercise and training techniques. After two months, she incorporated jogging into her walking routine. Six months later, she began running as part of her regimen. By the end of her first year, she had completed a mini-marathon in her local community. By age seventy-five, she had finished ten full 26.4-mile marathons and two fifty-mile cross-country marathons—all after never having run before age sixty-eight. This remarkable story illustrates that persistence can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Age, background, education, and past failures need not limit your future achievements if you refuse to quit. To develop greater persistence, start by talking to yourself positively. Before beginning any major undertaking, program yourself by saying, "I am unstoppable" and "I never give up." When facing setbacks, remind yourself that this is the "testing time" when you demonstrate what you're truly made of. Optimism fuels persistence. Cultivate boundless confidence in yourself and your ability to ultimately succeed. When things go wrong, control your thinking. Refuse to feel sorry for yourself or blame others. Instead, look for the valuable lesson in every problem or difficulty. As Norman Vincent Peale said, "When God wants to send you a gift, he wraps it up in a problem. The bigger the gift, the bigger the problem he wraps it up in." Adopt a proactive rather than reactive mindset. Focus on solutions instead of problems. Ask yourself, "What can I do now to improve this situation?" rather than dwelling on what went wrong or who's to blame. Every setback contains the seed of an equal or greater opportunity if you have the persistence to find it. Make a decision in advance that you will never give up on your most important goals. Resolve to stand "like an iron peg driven into the frozen ground, immovable." When you do this, your success becomes virtually guaranteed because nothing can stop you but yourself. Remember that each time you persist through difficulty, you strengthen your self-discipline muscle. Your self-esteem increases, and you feel more powerful and confident. This creates a virtuous cycle where persistence builds character, which enables greater persistence, ultimately making you unstoppable in pursuit of your dreams.

Summary

The power of self-discipline truly is the master key to unlocking your potential and creating the life you desire. Throughout these chapters, we've explored how this fundamental quality transforms every aspect of life—from clarifying your vision to building character, from managing your time to cultivating relationships. As Kop Kopmeyer wisely observed, "Self-discipline is the ability to do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not." Your journey toward greater self-discipline begins with a single decision: to take complete control of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Start today by selecting one area of your life where increased self-discipline would make the greatest positive impact. Then commit to daily practice in that area, knowing that each small victory strengthens your self-discipline muscle for even greater achievements. Remember that self-discipline is not about restriction but liberation—it frees you from the tyranny of impulse and allows you to become the architect of your destiny rather than a prisoner of circumstance.

About Author

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Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and organizations.He has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 55 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year.Brian has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, business, philosophy and psychology. He is the top selling author of over 45 books that have been translated into dozens of languages.He has written and produced more than 300 audio and video learning programs, including the worldwide, best-selling Psychology of Achievement, which has been translated into more than 20 languages.He speaks to corporate and public audiences on the subjects of Personal and Professional Development, including the executives and staff of many of America's largest corporations. His exciting talks and seminars on Leadership, Selling, Self-Esteem, Goals, Strategy, Creativity and Success Psychology bring about immediate changes and long-term results.Prior to founding his company, Brian Tracy International, Brian was the Chief Operating Officer of a $265 million dollar development company. He has had successful careers in sales and marketing, investments, real estate development and syndication, importation, distribution and management consulting. He has conducted high level consulting assignments with several billion-dollar plus corporations in strategic planning and organizational development.He has traveled and worked in over 80 countries on six continents, and speaks four languages. Brian is happily married and has four children. He is active in community and national affairs, and is the President of three companies headquartered in San Diego, California.His most popular training programs are centered around teaching authors how to write a book and helping public speakers create successful careers.

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