Ever notice that some people seem to effortlessly get things done while others struggle? Are those that do this smarter, better at their jobs, or more motivated? In some cases, one or more of these is a factor, however, the most important element is self-command. Those with better self-command achieve more with less effort, staying out of their own way in the process.

What is self-command and how do you achieve it? Just like a vocal performer learns how to take care of her instrument, in this case her body, each of us must continually work on mastering how we use what we have control over. Self-command is how well you manage your choices, your actions, and your words, as these are the only three things over which we each have complete autonomy.

• Hungry
• Angry
• Anxious
• Lonely
• Tired

Any one of these factors keeps us from being completely present and fully tuned into our capabilities. By managing these factors through Radical Accountability for our self-care, we ensure that our instrument is ready and able to perform at any given moment.

This Week’s Radical Accountability Activating Action: Watch for the five factors in H-A-A-L-T. Pay attention to how one or more of these is negatively impacting your self-command. As you address the factor(s), notice how quickly your self-command improves, you stop being an obstacle, and your results improve.