Welcome to Monday Dispatch, a bonus publication for premium subscribers with additional notes, deep dives, reading recommendations, and business updates.
I noticed Monday Dispatch 2024/02/13 had a missing link. The URL for The Downfall Of Modern Podcasts video by James Smith on YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE1GuFQHxSE.
“Freedom is an opportunity for self-discipline.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower.
I discovered that Eisenhower quote in Ryan Holiday’s Discipline is Destiny a couple of months ago and it’s been buzzing around my head ever since.
I find it applies so well to the life of knowledge workers working remotely.
We have freedom in the hours we choose to work. We need the discipline to stick to them and not overwork.
We have freedom in which projects we choose. We need the discipline to work on those that matter, not those that are easy.
Zooming out from remote knowledge workers to people living in the West, we have freedom no other generations ever enjoyed.
There is an abundance of calories dense food. We need the discipline to avoid caloric overload.
There is an abundance of entertainment. We need the discipline to get off the couch.
There is an abundance of products. We need the discipline to buy only what we need. Gear, not stuff, as
puts it.It may seem unfair. My son certainly thinks so when he remarks how much he wishes lollies were as good for you as broccoli.
All this goodness within reach, most of it is bad for you unless taken in small doses.
The more choices, the more discipline. But being disciplined is not as rewarding as eating that doughnut.
Or is it?
Discipline’s rewards are delayed but more ample. They are health, wealth, and wisdom.
And it goes further than that. The more I think of it, the more I see discipline as its own reward.
Which is why Eisenhower’s quote stuck. All this freedom is an opportunity for discipline, because discipline is a reward, not a penalty.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Remotely Productive to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.