You have to learn how to control this leak and make it work for you. And, here’s the tough part: If you can’t control it, seek help. I went into therapy a number of years ago to help with one of my writing issues, something that got in the way of my business. And much as I hate authority, I listened to that counselor, because being a successful writer meant more to me than the leak.

However, had we worked on my discipline issues with music, I probably would have blown off the therapy within weeks. I have never had the discipline there, and I really don’t want it. Not deep down.

And that’s the final issue. If you want a successful freelance career of any kind, you’ll overcome the things that get in your way. You can’t do it all at once. You have to tackle one problem at a time. But you’re willing to work on those problems.

If you’re not willing to solve the problem after years of trying, then you probably don’t want this freelance career (whatever it is) as much as you think you do.

Discipline is not about forcing yourself to improve. It’s about wanting to get better.

That’s the difference between Tiger Woods and all those other golfers. Tiger wants to be the best, and he knows the only way to do that is to work harder than everyone else. But he doesn’t define himself as the best right now. He means the best ever. He keeps Jack Nicklaus’s stats on his wall, trying to beat them. Tiger’s not playing the current field. He’s playing the entire field from the dawn of recorded golf history.

And he’s doing a good job at knocking down the records.

But here’s the key. He’s not doing this for his wife or his kids. He’s not doing it for his (late) father or for golf history. He’s doing it for himself. Because he wants to. Because that’s his goal.