7 Dec 2025 · 1 min
Short monologue-style podcast transcript (Tom) exploring the concept of discipline as ‘prioritizing the needs of my future self in the present.’ Tom recounts a conversation with friend/creator Chase Hughes, gives simple examples (laying out wardrobe, prepping coffee) and notes the reinforcing ritual of expressing gratitude to reinforce disciplined habits.
Discipline is prioritizing the needs of my future self in the present. That's what it's about, right? Discipline is prioritizing the needs of my future self in the present. So if I do it now, my future self would be like, wow, Tom, thank you so much. This was a conversation I was in with a bunch of my team clients, and my good friend Chase Hughes, if you don't call it Chase, highly recommend it to, like, a million subscribers on YouTube. We talking about discipline. And he said to me, tom, discipline is prioritizing the needs of your future self in the present. Prioritizing the needs of my future self in the present. He gave the example of something as simple as just laying out your wardrobe for the next day, setting aside, or getting your coffee ready in the morning. And it wasn't just the act. That simple. Discipline. Prioritizing the needs of my future self. He took it one step further. He actually says, when I get up in the morning and I see that my coffee is already there, I stop for a minute. I say, thanks, Chase. You're awesome. I really appreciate that. Reinforcing the discipline that he wants.