ZigOn Discipline
It is my privilege to know General Colin Powell (former U.S. Secretary of State) and to have been present during a recent question and answer session with him. I believe his remarks are worth repeating.
Someone asked, "What did you learn in the military?" General Powell said that the first thing he learned was that everyone was at the same level (thanks to the uniform haircut given all recruits). Other things he learned were: To stand at attention and salute, which instilled discipline and obedience; to march in step and function as a part of a team while taking individual pride as a team member; that if he did not stay in step with the others there were undesirable consequences; and that if he performed well, both he and his team were recognized.
He pointed out that basic training physically hardens recruits and makes them respect their own bodies, enabling them to perform better. He observed that the first week is generally so hard and the drill sergeant so demanding that most recruits develop something akin to hatred for the Sergeant. But the hatred fades quickly. By the second week of training, the typical recruit is doing everything he can to please his drill sergeant. That is an amazing turn-about. For many recruits, the discipline is translated to love and caring for them, which is a new experience for some. The truth is, discipline is loving, just ask any parent. Discipline is essential to every individual and crucial for teams. No unit can ever become a potent fighting force without discipline and no life can be truly successful without it.
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The criteria for becoming a successful soldier or a successful private citizen are the same. If we learn to function as a team member, we will do so only after we've brought our own personal life under control and learned how to "drill." When you sum it all up, it really says there's something we can do about our future. Buy that idea and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
