Author: Gary A. Brown

Black Belt Diligence

You are diligent when you persevere and expend great effort to complete a task or achieve a goal. Imagine what life would be like if you approached every important task with discipline and focus? Imagine what life would be like if you always did your best? Imagine what it would be like if you persevered, even when you could be discouraged or find a particular task very difficult? Make those imaginations real and you will have Black Belt diligence.
A Black Belt is a martial artist who is strong, confident and disciplined. Those Black Belt qualities are easy to recognize because diligence is required to reach such a high level of accomplishment. You can’t achieve Black Belt excellence unless you have the diligence to acquire those qualities. You must be a diligent student to persevere through all of the training, commitment and emotional dedication that the martial arts requires. Your Black Belt accomplishment lasts a lifetime. Being diligent is also a life-long quality, or skill, that will serve you well.
Test your Black Belt with the True/False test below.
T/F I always try my hardest in class regardless of how I feel. I don’t take it easy even when I am tired or sad.
T/F I strive for excellence. I work at a task or a problem until I know that others can see my excellence. If I know I can do better, then I try harder.
T/F I have the self-discipline to reach my goals without the need of others to push me. I don’t need others to remind me to practice, or remind me of my goals.
T/F I make sure I learn from my mistakes and failures. I understand that mistakes and failures teach good lessons that will help me grow.
T/F I don’t let my mistakes, failures and weaknesses stop me from achieving. When I fall, I rise quickly to continue my training, my growing and my achieving.
T/F I constantly set goals. As I achieve those goals, I set new ones.
T/F I don’t stop just because my goals seem difficult. I find a way to work toward my goals.
T/F I don’t procrastinate. I complete tasks on time, and with the best effort possible.
T/F I see the value of perseverance whenever I face daily challenges. When I persevere, I feel good about myself and I’m motivated to take the next step.
If you answered “True” to all the statements above, then you have Black Belt diligence.
Achieving Black Belt diligence is not easy. It takes consistency and a conscious effort. You will not develop Black Belt diligence quickly, but with enough effort you will progress forward everyday. One day your Black Belt diligence will become a natural instinct. You will make the best decisions and put forth the best effort simply because you know that is what you must do. This is Black Belt diligence.