Habits start out as thin threads and turn into thick cables.
My mentor Sid Simon is a successful speaker, trainer, best-selling author, and poet who splits
his time between
One of Sid’s highest priorities is his health and fitness. At 77 years old, he still bikes on a regular basis, takes supplements, and – oh yes – he allows himself a bowl of ice cream on the one day a month when there’s a full moon.
When I attended Sid’s seventy-fifth birthday celebration, over 100 of his family members, closest friends, and adoring former students came from all over the country to celebrate with him.
Dessert was the standard birthday cake and ice cream. Only one problem, though – there wasn’t a full moon.
To cajole him into giving himself permission on this once-in-a-lifetime special occasion, four people who knew of Sid’s commitment dressed as moon goddesses and entered the room carrying a huge full moon made out of cardboard and aluminum foil, so there would be a virtual full moon for Sid.
But even with all that loving persuasion, Sid stood firm with his commitment this one time and declined the ice cream.
He knew if he broke his commitment this one time, it would be that much easier to break it the next time he was offered ice cream. It would be easier to rationalize, justify, and explain away his commitment.
Sid knew that a 100% commitment is actually easier to keep, and he was unwilling to undermine years of success for other people’s approval.
We all learned a lot about true self-discipline that night.
Rob Gilbert
