The D factor — from dreams to destiny

Why do some people make it while others don’t? What is that X factor that successful people have? Are they born to win? How does luck figure in these “star” stories? These are some of the questions that people are obsessed with. Many a scholar has written much on them. Many theories are there. All of them have given an insight into the success factor. Studies abound on how these people had vision. Books exist on the ability of these people to be dream merchants. The other popular topic, “Destiny”, is also a self-help literature favourite. The fact that these people had an end goal in mind is an important spur of success. Without destiny, dream merchants become pedestrians. The light at the end of the tunnel keeps the traveller moving. The final destination is the end in mind. All of the above is true. All of the above is part of the success build-up. All of the above is inspiring. All of the above is motivating. All of the above is, however, not all in all for success. Many people dream. Many others envision. Some focus on destiny. Some have a clear concept of the final destination. Most of them never achieve the success they want. Statistics show a sorry conversion of dreams to reality. Classic research by the University of Scranton shows that 92 percent of people who set goals for new years abandon it in the first month. That means only 8 percent pursue it. How many actually achieve them must be much less. The normal justifications are “do not have time”, “luck is not with me”, “my circumstances are soo. .. ”, “it’s not practical”, etc. That brings us to the missing link between the dream and the destiny. That missing link is another ‘D’ and i. e. , Discipline. A dream without discipline is a nightmare. Discipline seems a regimented repeatable act. It is; but it is much more. The “D” factor is the real trial of how true you are to your dreams and passions. Let us look at how the “D” factor is the real game changer: D Factor#1- Commit ments to what you stand for- Discipline is not just a rule regulation game. It is the ability to know the destiny and the resolve to do it the right way. As a leader your character is based on certain values that you uphold. The first discipline is when circumstances in your personal and professional life are putting pressure to go against those values. Will you have the discipline to withstand the pressure and live with the consequences of sticking to them? That commitment requires the discipline to say ‘no’, when it is so easy to say ‘yes’. Integrity is a most oft-repeated value by people and most leaders. How many times we have seen the most celebrated corporate heroes capitulate. In recent times they are caught fudging numbers to increase share values. In contrast, we are in awe of the discipline of the Mandelas of the world. In corporate world, the example of the CEO of a leading company in Pakistan who took a stand on retaining lower staff and increasing their pay in COVID despite the stakeholders pressure are examples of the discipline to stand for your believes and values. D Factor#2- Passion sustainability- If 92 percent people cannot sustain their resolves, it is a glaring gap. Another D factor is how deep, enduring and persistent is your passion against all odds. The discipline to keep going when everything inside you wants to give up is a major differentiating X factor. The most common example is about losing weight. Most diets fail. Most workouts are aborted. How deep and burning is the fire inside? The sports field is full of examples of how many talented people fade out quickly. In contrast, the lesser talented people through sheer passion persistence rode through all the downs in the journey. Who in the world feels good and chirpy at 4am in the morning? Everyone fights the sleep, the heavy head, the dragging feet, and the mind that is making hundred excuses of taking one more hour off. The soft, warm mattress is irresistible. The champions have the discipline to beat the alarm, their laziness, their heaviness. The talented in disciplines fading stars are beaten by the alarm day in day out. Even if they manage to get up and go out, the weather, the car, the door key all become excuses. Michael Phelps, the swimming champion who won eight Olympic medals, trained for over 700 days without fail. In heat, in snow, in rain, on birthdays, on Christmas, he showed up and trained and drilled. D Factor#3- Response to failure- The mood discipline is a key determinant of success. When things go well, you rise, and when they go sour, your mood is depressed and you cannot perform. Do you have the discipline of controlling your moods or do your moods control you? That is a huge “D” factor. When you constantly fail, but still hold on to your sagging spirits, for one more try, that is the test you win. Abraham Lincoln lost 8 nominations and elections before he won. Recently, in his convocation speech of Dartmouth College, Roger Federer talked about the concept of moving ahead after failure. “When you lose every second point, on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot, you teach yourself to think, ‘OK, I double-faulted. It’s only a point. ’ When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world, and it is. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mind-set is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next point after that, with intensity, clarity and focus. ” Failure is part of success. It is this discipline of not letting the failure fail you that distinguishes the ordinary from the extraordinary. Discipline is the hallmark of leaders. It is about determination. It is about devotion to your dreams. It is about perseverance despite the circumstances. It is about not letting obstacles stop you. It is about doing it when you hate to do it. It is about standing up when all is falling. It is about not giving up. It is not about not giving in. It is about credibility. It is about resilience. It is about tenacity. It is about self-accountability. All these are values that form the strength of character of people, companies and countries. As Lou Holtz stated, “Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period. ” Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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