Growing up, my father taught me an appreciation for reading and learning. When we would go on road trips, we would be bombarded with great information from authors and speakers such as Tom Hopkins, Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, and more. When we were not listening to these self-help and business leaders, the only other thing that would play on the radio was Willie Nelson.Being a parent, business owner, speaker, author, and through helping out in our local church, I am grateful for the habits of learning that my father helped to instill in me.  I enjoy reading books, listening to seminars in my car when I drive around, and sharing the information that I receive with others; which brings us to Brian Tracy’s book, No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline.I really liked this book. Self discipline can be hard. It can be hard to shuttle your kids back and forth to school, balance the checkbook, save money, eat right, exercise regularly, put a smile on when you go to work, and do all of the things that “you are supposed to do” in a 24 hour period. After all, it takes self discipline to organize your time, money, family, home, etc.

I find that time management is my biggest weakness. I want to have fun, and play, a lot. I like to rock climb, fish, play disc golf, surf, and about every other “extreme” sport out there. There are a lot of books I desire to read, and places I want to go, yet if I spend all of my time doing those things, my practice suffers, I don’t see my kids as much as I would like, and ultimately, even though I am having “fun” I am not as fulfilled.

Brian Tracy’s book, No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline, was a great reminder of why it is so important for me to take charge of my own life. Brian Tracy breaks down the major areas of congestion in people’s life, whether it is business, family life, health, or financial stress and attempts to provide a clear, step by step process in which someone can set goals for improvement.  Following each chapter is a series of action steps that the reader can use as a guide to begin to improve.

Looking for something good to read over the Christmas holidays? Are you going to set New Year’s resolutions, and want to complete them? Do you struggle with dietary changes, exercise, and healthier living? Check out No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline, and let me know what you think.