Comments on: Are You Disciplined Enough? – Entrepreneur University

By: Jim Bouchard

Jim Bouchard — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:38:56 +0000

Wow! What a great discussion and I appreciate everyone’s perspective!

First, sorry for the slow response; I just got an alert that this article was posted by YoungEntrepreneur, and I thank them for posting it!

Next; I want to address Jared directly. The problem as I’ve experienced it is not with young people who are truly ambitious and willing to do what it takes to succeed; it’s with those who expect RESULTS without having made a contribution yet. The baseline contribution is to do the work you need to train yourself for your desired position.

I’ve worked with many young adults who demand certain considerations in pay or expect a certain position because they, by their own admission, graduated with academic credentials that they didn’t have to work hard for. Your diploma, should you earn one, is your pre-requisite; it’s not usually your ticket to instant success. It’s like being drafted into the NFL; you earned the opportunity to try out with a team, now you’ve got to prove yourself worthy to play.

And…you’ve got to keep proving yourself.

I agree with you; do what you want to do. If you don’t want to wear a suit and tie then find something else. Ultimately, you declare your own success. I don’t come from the corporate world. I’m a two time college drop-out who spent at least two lives in the music business and one in radio and television production before I ever put on a tie! What I am saying, however, is that once you choose your profession you’ve got to play by those rules…or develop enough power to change them!

The bottom line is this: We’ve all share only one entitlement; we’re entitled to opportunity. The rest is earned by hard work, discipline and focus and yes….make sure you’re playing along the way! Life balance is an essential ingredient for success & happiness!

Best thoughts to all and please join me on Facebook, LinkedIn and at JimBouchard.org!
Jim

By: Luis Duarte

Luis Duarte — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Here’s more about a school that teaches entrepreneurship.

Babson College is hosting its first Latin America Entrepreneurship Forum on April 24th, 2009

20 amazing speakers from Italy, US and Latin America speaking about opportunities in the region.

Keynotes:
Gabriel Jaramillo, CEO Sovereign Bank – Former President Santander Brasil and Colombia
Roberto Zamora, CEO Lafise group
Barry Featherman, Founder and CEO of the Inter American Economic Council

Panel Topics: Social entrepreneurship, Expanding Business in Latin America, Endeavor in Latin America, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ventures, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Latin America Business Idea Competition, Investing in the region.

Registration is available at: http://www.babsonlatinamerica.com/forum

By: Responsibility and the New Generations

Responsibility and the New Generations — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:15:31 +0000

[...] read stories of young people feeling entitled to jobs, being unwilling to accept responsibility, and not possessing fundamental communication [...]

By: Motivational

Motivational — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:25 +0000

Discipline may sound like a “bad word” for some people but without it, your life will be nothing. Become a slave to discipline and you’ll have the world at your feet.

By: Russell Beese

Russell Beese — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:30:08 +0000

Great subject! Without discipline we can’t go very far. It is easy to say where you want to be in years to come but if we don’t really commit to doing what it takes we will end up very disappointed having only ourselves to blame. Self-discipline, responsibility and respect are the way to be successful.

By: Josh Hurlock http://twitter.com/JoshHurlock

Josh Hurlock http://twitter.com/JoshHurlock — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:47:35 +0000

I understand where Jared is coming from. At the same time, being an entrepreneur is not easy and I think personal power and discipline is vital to persevere. No matter what anyone may say, even if you are doing something you love, there are times that get you feeling in the dumps, and this discipline is needed to work through the situation.

By: Thomas E. Anderson, II

Thomas E. Anderson, II — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:59:41 +0000

Great post – and the most focused “rant” I’ve ever read. You definitely hit discipline from every angle. Even down to the passion that lights the fire under each entrepreneur.

Without this passion, discipline becomes a dirty word and life an empty existence. I agree that discipline is not easy. But with such things as passion, purpose and vision, self-discipline becomes much easier.

By: Jared O'Toole

Jared O'Toole — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:37:31 +0000

I’m not sure if I agree with this. I don’t think this mentality is as negative as you make it out to be.

The reason for the entitlement feeling is because of the mass opportunity in front of young people. We are 1 of the 1st generations to truly recognize the possibility of doing what we love and not settling for anything less. It’s not about not wanting to work but wanting to work in the environment that fits us perfectly. Now that may mean not showing up in a suit for a job interview but if that is what the company protocol is and that isn’t want you want to wear everyday then there are 100 other opportunities to go explore.

Discipline is important and some people take it to far. But its a fine line of entitlement and high ambitions.

By: Bill Dotson

Bill Dotson — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:21:05 +0000

Great article. I agree with your thoughts. My best teach in college was the strictest. She’s one of the only professors who really pushed me and required discipline. It may seem cliched: she was Japanese and insisted on teaching us in a mainly Japanese style.

By: Barry Wright, III

Barry Wright, III — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:20:03 +0000

Great post. The entitlement mentality is definitely started at home, but it’s exacerbated at school as well (grade inflation, especially in private schools doesn’t just increase grades, it makes people stop trying to earn grades). I was lucky to have a music teacher in high school who expertly taught the morals of hard work and self-discipline; I owe a lot to him for my continued success. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the norm these days.