What does Tyler Perry have to do with Self-Discipline and what does this have to do with me? Read on and let me tell you.

What is the Vision for Your Life?

What do you want to do with your life? Do you feel like you’re too busy? Well, I’ve been asking myself, ‘can a busier schedule make you more disciplined?’

Most of us would love to have more time to get those things done that are close to our hearts. Many of us work 9-5 jobs which take up the ‘best’ part of our day and a good portion of our mental, physical and spiritual strength. By the time we get home from work, many of us are tired and hungry. By the time we eat and wind down a bit, the day is done and it’s time to go to sleep just to get up and do it all over again tomorrow.

Most of us wished we had more time. I remember when I prayed for more time to write and create. When I my schedule freed up a bit and I had more free time in my day, I found myself spending it doing nothing. Since I was already tired, I found myself sleeping longer. When I was up, I found myself scanning the cable stations to see what was interesting to watch. It was only when I made it a point to schedule my "off" time, did some things get accomplished. Yet, I was not as fruitful and productive as I thought I would be when I was busier.

Now that my schedule is divided between work, home and church - and my financial situation forces me to look at alternate ways to increase my cash flow… I’ve become more aggressive and innovative - not in looking for another ‘job,’ but in creating more opportunity to do the things I love to do in a way that can bring in more resources. I’m a writer, who has authored one book and has five additional manuscripts in development.

So what do I do? I schedule in my creative work, between everything else: (Read and write on my commute to work; type during my lunch break; plan on my commute home; forgo television in favor of typing for at least an hour or two at night.) Why? I do this because a dream and vision to creatively impact people, lives within me.

What Does Tyler Perry Have To Do With This?

There are examples all around us of people who live their lives in a very effecient manner. I don’t have it down to an exact science yet, but I am realizing how much time I waste during the day. I’m writing about this now, because it began to crystallize for me after I read an amazing article in Ebony Magazine’s (October ‘08) issue yesterday, on Tyler Perry . The article chronicles his rise from homelessness to a billion dollar brand name empire. In all of it, he has been able to stay grounded. Tyler not only attributes his success to his faith in God, but also to his day to day discipline, focus and perseverance. His schedule is busier than anything I could ever imagine. So I figure if he can be so productive with a terribly busy schedule, then there must be something to this premise.

Understand, that I am not advocating that we need to be increasingly "busy" for the sake of being busy. Many people are so busy that they don’t know whether they are coming or going. Still others are busy with things that don’t really matter - things that are pulling them away from their family and other important areas.

What I am suggesting is using our ‘busyness’ to help us instead of hinder us. It’s amazing how much we can get done when we set our mind on various tasks. Don’t sit around wishing and waiting for the day when you can do something different or creative. Don’t wish for the ‘right’ opportunity to come while you waste away time that can be used to prepare yourself. If you do that, and the opportunity does present itself, you won’t be able take advantage of the opportunity because you will have little or no preparation to keep you there.

So look at your schedule and see how you can ‘channel’ your busyness. See how you can utilize the time that you have to get more done that will last and make an impact in the lives of others. I find when I have more to do, I typically get more done; and when I have less to do, I get less done. There’s something about having a heavy schedule (of important things) that can energize you so that you rise up to the challenge.

After reading about Tyler Perry’s intense schedule (up at 5am in bed by 8:30pm on week nights; directs three episodes a week or House of Payne; writing/authoring, theatrical touring; two movies a year, etc…), I realized that I couldn’t complain about my schedule. Nor could I complain about what I do not have because ultimately I haven’t wanted to put in the time and effort that it takes to achieve and receive them. Tyler Perry and I both have the same amount of time each day. The difference between him living out his potential and me living out mine… is how we utilize our discipline, faith and perseverance. (He’s doing a better job… ;-)) But I’m learning.

Are You Disciplined With Your God-given Gifts?

The bible says that "a person’s gifts will make room for them and bring them before important people." (Prov. 18:16) But in oder for our gifts to do this, we must first be disciplined enough to develop them. As we work to develop our gifts, we are also improving our internal fortitude and integrity. So don’t just ‘wait’ for things to happen; and don’t go out and ‘make’ things happen either. Prepare yourself. Walk towards God and the dreams He has placed inside of you. Give and be a blessing to others along the way. If you do this, He will lead you to where you need to be and you will reap a harvest, if you don’t faint and give up. It may take longer than we’d like, but God’s plan for us is greater than what we can imagine.

Can a busier schedule make you more disciplined and bring about the purposes of God in your life? If you use it, it can. What excuse do we have for not being better stewards of our time, money and resources?

All I know is that I don’t want to die without ever really utilizing the potential God has placed within me. And it’s not about me trying to be Tyler Perry. It’s about being able to learn from the example that he sets.

What God has for me is for me. What God has for you is for you. No one can take it from us. But we can forfeit it if we don’t want to put in the time and effort. Who knows what the future holds? How will you and I impact the lives of those around us? I’ve set writing deadlines and tentative book release dates and daily work towards them. Within the next year or two, you could own my books and be watching one of my stories on television or at the movies, on the internet or on your Ipod.

Who knows… I could own your work and be watching you! ;-)

Let me know what you think.