Was Tiger Woods born with physical attributes that make it possible for him to drive a golf ball 360 yards…straight?  Of course.
            Was Oprah born with a gift for gab and a knock-your-socks-off smile?  You bet.
            Was Lucian Pavarotti born with a set of pipes (vocal cords) that will make you weep?  No question.
            But everyone one of those people tapped into their greatness through inspiration and… perspiration. 
            The same is true for notable leaders like Jack Welch, Carly Fiorina or Colin Powell
It’s the perspiration thing that makes the difference in leadership and a willingness to sweat to success is all about discipline.
But the question of discipline in leadership is not whether or not you are busy or even caring.  The question is:  are you expending energy doing the right things?
I believe there are four disciplines that mark the life of every effective leader.
The first discipline is personal health.
If you cannot manage your health, how can you manage a project or other people?  The first victim of the “tyranny of the present” (no time, no money, no support) will be your body.
Have you ever said to yourself, “I am going to start exercising and eating right”?  Then your cell phone screamed some time-sensitive obscenity at you while someone shoved a third Krispy Kreme this morning in your face.  Come on, who has time to strap on running shoes or nibble on baby carrots?
Here are two facts you need to know.  The number one killer of adults in the United States is heart attack or stroke.  Secondly, most of these fatal episodes could have been avoided with a regimen of mild physical exercise and eating a healthy diet.
To be honest, no one will be impressed at your funeral with the epitaph, “he killed himself for his/her job.” 
The second discipline is time management. 
Time management is really self management.  If you are out of control of your life, you will also be out of control of your time.
Time management is best defined by the writer of the ancient biblical book, Proverbs, “…there is a time for everything under the sun.”
This discipline assumes time is finite and non-renewal.  This discipline means there is a plan…not just another hour to endure.  This discipline means you have to say “no” when time is getting out of balance.  This discipline means you hold people accountable for deadlines. 
And, this discipline means you celebrate life by taking your Timex off and doing something in your personal life where you consciously, and without guilt, lose track of time.

The third discipline is execution.  No, not the blindfolds-line-them-up-at-the-wall type.
This discipline demands you stop dreaming and start executing your best intentions.  There are some of us who go through life creating castles… in the air. 
The leader knows wishing away a life is a foolish choice.  What idea for improving communication with your customers have you built with leadership legos between your ears, but have never put into practice?  What non-monetary rewards are you convinced will stop staff turnover, but have yet to implement?
Living just with the “woulds,” “coulds” and “shoulds” will tear apart your hope and leave you with the burned-out memories that normally accumulate in a heap of remorse.
The fourth discipline is clear, concise language.
I am convinced that anyone who can control the language also can control the environment. 
“I have a dream…” “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country…” and “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal….”
The right words, spoken in a well-modulated voice, using the proper tone can quiet a chaotic staff meeting or bring order to an annual performance review session.
Leaders are special people.  They have the power to craft a workplace culture, motivate the stuck employee and paint a future that is irresistible.
These four disciplines are not the beginning and end of leadership accountabilities.  But they are a beginning.  All we have today is a new beginning.  So, instead of beating yourself up with, “I knew I should have been working on that,” try, “Now, I know where to begin.”