Former President Jimmy Carter published a book entitled Why Not Your Best?, in which he tells of a conversation he had with one of the commanding admirals of the United States Naval Academy. The admiral asked, "What is your class rank?" Carter proudly answered 57th out of 819 cadets. His answer was followed with what seemed like an eternity of silence. Then the Admiral asked Carter, "Did you do your best?" After thinking about the question President Carter answered meekly, "No."

President Carter surely is to be admired for his honesty; his willingness to tell the Admiral the absolute truth when asked about his efforts as a midshipman at the Naval Academy. History will record the strength of Carter's character and his total honesty in all situations. However, President Carter in this book admits a personal shortcoming when he acknowledged that as a Cadet at the Naval Academy he had not given his best effort.

Throughout life, some people are inevitably referred to as "winners." Some commentator will always say that so and so really likes to win. Of course they do. Everyone likes to win. However, only winners have the self-discipline to prepare themselves to win. This may sound like a page from Knute Rockne's book of motivational speeches for athletes. It is also a call for the self-discipline anyone in any business needs to be truly successful.

Winners in any endeavor have the self-discipline to prepare themselves for whatever task is at hand. The very best is won not idly but by toil. President John F. Kennedy once described his childhood this way, "I grew up in a very strict house There were not free rides and everyone was expected to give their best to what they did. There was a constant drive for self-improvement."

Most of us know the correct thing to do in most situations. We know what it takes to carry out our assignments fully and in an exemplary fashion. The truly self-disciplined can be depended upon to do the homework, the background work, the research, the due diligence necessary to achieve at the highest level of individual capability.

Robert Shogan, author of The Double- Edged Sword, a book which details how character makes and ruins Presidents from Washington to Clinton, says of the Father of our Country, "George Washington's greatness, his ability to exert his personal influence on the shaping of the U.S, stemmed from his self-discipline and his self-confidence, shaped by the rigorous code he imposed on himself. Because he knew who he was and felt no need to prove himself to others, Washington avoided much folly."