365 Days with Self-discipline Review | Martin Meadows
10 Lessons from 365 Days With Self-Discipline
1) Life's easy when you live it the hard way... and hard if you try to live it the easy way.
2) Your choices are made in a moment, but their consequences will transcend a lifetime.
3) Self-discipline comes down to choosing between instant and delayed gratification.
4) Quitting when you're panicked is dangerous and expensive. The best quitters are the ones who decide in advance when they're going to quit. You can always quit later so wait until you're done panicking to decide.
5) No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
6) In order to succeed, you must have a long-term focus. Most of the challenges in our lives come from a short-term focus.
7) Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.
8)If you use moderation as an excuse not to push your limits, you're mistaking moderation for mediocrity.
9) Most of us dread the deadening of the body and will do anything to avoid it. About the deadening of the soul, however, we don't care one iota.
10) I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what's next.
I'm very impressed with this book. Martin Meadows took his writing to the next level with it. I can't recall another book that fits its purpose to the T like "365 Days with Self-Discipline." I've read thousands of books in my life, and hundreds of them were nonfiction guidebooks. Maybe two or three were just as precise in matching their mission and the actual content.
So, why the reference to the Tools of Titans? Well, the premise of Ferris' book was to be virtually mentored by the best. However, it's clear from reviews that Tim Ferris didn't deliver. Even the mentors he chose were questionable and readers complained a lot about how confusing the whole book was, and how nuggets of wisdom were hidden among a lot of fluff.
"365 Days with Self-Discipline" does not have these flaws. The role models are the greatest people in our history (Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, John Quincy Adams, and Benjamin Franklin to name just a few). The chapters are precise and concise.
It's written the way Tools of Titans should have been. I've followed Martin Meadows' progress since the beginning of his career, and now that I've seen how he's progressed, he definitely has Tim Ferris-like potential.
No Cons
Some reviewers complained that the book is a bit repetitive. I don't mind that at all. Jim Rohn said that there are only a few to several fundamentals of success.
"There are no new fundamentals. You've got to be a little suspicious of someone who says, 'I've got a new fundamental.' That's like someone inviting you to tour a factory where they are manufacturing antiques." - Jim Rohn
Therefore, I don't mind that Meadows comes back to self-discipline all the time and repeats his nutrition or exercise tips here and there. If you want to chase shiny objects, you have the whole Internet full of that. If you want to become more self-disciplined you need to be ready for some repetitions.
PROS
1. Quotes.
My respect for the author climbed to another level when I realized how well-read he is. I've read thousands of books in my life and still, at least half of the quotes in this book were foreign to me.
The choice of mentors he quoted was both very wide and very wise. Martin Meadows picked only the best quotes from ancient philosophers to modern authors.
2. Lessons.
I love practically all the lessons Martin Meadows provides. He took brevity to the next level. I don't think any of the "chapters" were more than three pages on my Kindle.
The lessons directly tackle the particular sage's saying; they're very concise.
They are also very personal and I love them. I consider this an advantage of self-publishing over traditional publishing. The author can share his life lessons without censorship. Martin accompanies plenty of the quotes he uses with his experience. He is not afraid to admit his past mistakes at all.
I expected smart lessons from Martin Meadows, but I didn't expect wisdom. The combination of the greatest human mind's reflections and his own insights is truly moving. It's the only one of his books I can classify as "inspirational."
3. Implementation.
Moreover, you can pick dozens of practical tips and implement them right away. I took at least several ideas for my journaling sessions from "365 Days with Self-Discipline". Martin generously shares his own hacks for nutrition, exercises, running a business, and building great relationships. He covers all the important areas of life and he does it straight from his heart without sounding like a guru or acting like he doesn't make mistakes. In fact, he draws the best tips and lessons from his past mistakes.
4. Masterpiece!
I didn't read this book as it is supposed to be read - one chapter a day. I was too impatient for that. Still, it is a thick volume and it took me a few months between all the other books I read.
I found everything in this book: inspiration, determination, self-discipline, useful daily rituals, common sense, and practical tips- all condensed into a couple pages at the time.
Here is my tip for you: "365 Days with Self-Discipline" will make a great foundation for your morning ritual if you don't have one yet. Read just one chapter a day in the morning. This is simultaneously easy and useful. You have a clear task ahead, so it's hard to miss this discipline or get confused by your lazy subconscious mind. Wake up, grab the book, and read 1–3 pages. The end.
After a few months of this practice, you can stack another habit on top of daily reading and scale up your morning ritual.
Birds of a Feather Flocks Together
I wholeheartedly recommend "365 Days with Self-Discipline"
If you want to be more like the successful best-selling author Martin Meadows, you should read this book. Plus, you may become more like hundreds of the coolest human minds in history.
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