Discipline

Discipline is a virtue that everyone admires but struggles to master. In the military, they loved to throw the word around. Stoics champion it as the foundation of a good life, and even I tell my mentees that discipline is essential for developers. But what does it truly mean? Through history, personal experiences, and a simple framework, we can break down the essence of discipline.

Setting: Second Punic War. Hannibal had just achieved three grandiose victories at Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae. Rome seemed on the brink of collapse, with Italian city-states changing allegiance and the entire region in chaos. All that remained was to march on Rome itself. But winter approached, and Carthage, instead of providing the resources Hannibal requested, sent only empty encouragements, leaving the magnanimous general to fend for himself.

Hannibal's route to Italy. In every journey that requires time and effort, challenges with maintaining vision and resources can arise.

Lacking the resources to besiege Rome, Hannibal settled his army in Capua for several years. These once battle-hardened soldiers—men who had achieved the impossible—became complacent. They turned to carousing, marrying, and even deserting. Discipline had reached an all-time low. This illustrates how discipline, even in the most dedicated groups, falters when vision, resources, or habits are missing.

The army had lost its sense of purpose—the vision that once guided them, much like a company’s mission guides its employees today. Without this guiding 'northern light,' their habits and training began to falter. The motivation that once defined them disappeared.

This illustrates a fundamental truth: discipline isn’t just about effort. It’s the result of vision, resources, and habits working together. Without vision, even the best habits lose focus, and without resources, action becomes impossible.

Discipline = Vision × Resources × Habits

• Vision provides purpose and direction. Without it, habits and resources lack focus, as seen in Hannibal’s soldiers in Capua.

• Resources enable action. Even the clearest vision and strongest habits falter without tools to act, much like Hannibal’s inability to press on due to Carthage’s neglect.

• Habits sustain progress. They are the consistent actions that turn vision and resources into outcomes, whether for an ancient army or a modern team.

Discipline as a system: Vision, Resources, and Habits working together like interlocking gears to drive progress.

Discipline itself isn’t inherently virtuous—it depends on what it’s directed toward. A coke fiend can have great discipline for getting his next line, while a marathon runner’s discipline drives them toward personal growth and achievement. Both demonstrate discipline, but only one aligns vision, resources, and habits for a constructive purpose.

To keep ourselves in our best shape, we need to remember why we’re doing what we do. As leaders, this means not just barking orders but explaining the purpose behind them. When we show others the 'why,' we give their actions meaning, which strengthens discipline and invites collaboration. For instance, I often find it important to explain to my team why a specific reply format or estimate structure matters. Once they understand the context—such as improving client relationships or reducing errors—they adopt the habit more willingly. And if the 'why' isn’t strong enough, it opens a dialogue for improvement.

Vision alone isn’t enough. We need habits to bridge the gap between our goals and our actions. The more consistent we are in maintaining these habits, the closer we move toward a disciplined and fulfilling life. When I was 16, I dreamed of being a musician. I had the vision, but without habits to practice consistently, my discipline faltered. This lack of alignment is why many aspirations remain unrealized.

Similarly, as leaders, we often encounter situations where habits are implemented without a clear vision. A common pitfall in leadership is focusing on habits without considering the vision behind them. In the military, I recall being tasked with pulling weeds from cracks in paved roads manually, even though chemicals could have done the job more efficiently. While the goal was to keep people busy, the lack of purpose in these activities often led to frustration and demotivation. For roles that demand precision and focus—like defense—busywork can undermine discipline instead of fostering it. You might get a good army of devout gardeners but better to have the habits aligned with vision.

Lessons in discipline and leadership: My military experience taught me how alignment between vision, resources, and habits drives success, whether in the field or in the workplace.

As a leader, your responsibility is to provide a clear vision and ensure that your team understands the 'why' behind their tasks. This clarity gives purpose to their habits and strengthens discipline. Equally important is equipping them with the right resources to implement those habits effectively, whether it’s proper tools, guidance on communication with clients, cybersecurity protocols, or even personal habits like continuous learning. A vision without the means to achieve it is as ineffective as tools without purpose. By aligning vision, habits, and resources, you empower your team to thrive and remain disciplined.