3 Ways I'm Learning That Discipline = Freedom
In 2018, I learned about the concept that Discipline Equals Freedom and it took till late 2025 for me to start to realize what it means.
The concept is from the book "Extreme Ownership" by US Navy Seals Jocko Wilink and Leif Babin. Extreme Ownership is all about how leaders must own everything in their world and everything is their fault because there is no one else to blame. Unless you only want to ever do what others tell you to, you're a leader—even if you're a solo-preneur just starting.
After re-reading Extreme Ownership earlier in 2025, I started realizing the positive impacts of discipline equaling freedom in October last year in 3 areas of my life.
Way 1: Business Consistency
The realization that consistency matters came from looking back at my lack of consistency since 2020.
In 2018, I consistently posted to Instagram every day, but slacked off in 2019 and have never gotten back. Looking at the years of inconsistency and lack of progress on social media demonstrated exactly why it matters so much. Now in 2026, I am committed to consistency above almost everything.
Successful entrepreneurs are dangerously consistent, which comes from being disciplined to focus on it, even when we don't feel like it.
Way 2: Waking Up/Going To Bed Early
Jocko advocates getting up at 4:30 in Extreme Ownership, but I discounted the advice upon first reading.
I have always thought of myself as a night owl who gets my best work done between midnight and 3am. As much as I used to tell myself this, my next day would be ruined until 1pm as I tried to get enough caffeine in my system to function like an adult. Now, I realize that my late night "productivity" was really 10% productive and 90% floundering (a discovery when I started running for Disney Run events in 2021).
Now, I am finding that I am more productive from 5am till my kids wake up than anytime after 9pm.
Way 3: Idea Clarification
About 1 year ago, I joined the online writing program, Ship 30 for 30 to start writing online.
I joined with the intent of being consistent, but never successfully completed more than 20 days in a row till last month. Now that I have posted an article every day for 2 months, I have started to see the benefits of leveraging writing to clarify my thoughts. There is something permanent about putting ideas in writing, even more so in public.
Writing about the ideas around the Maker Space and online marketing for the space for 60 days consistently has clarified how I think about these ideas.
