A takeaway about discipline & devotion

The legendary opera singer Luciano Pavarotti said, "People think I'm disciplined. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference." 

It’s an inspiring reminder for any leader to find their inspiration to be disciplined about. 

Discipline is committing your time & effort. Devotion is committing your heart & soul. 

Discipline drives what you do. Devotion expresses who you do it for, and why. 

And the “why” is love. 

I can only guess, but I think Pavarotti truly loved music, and he treated it like loved it. And he treated us like he loved it.  

We listen to it, he became it.      

I think he wanted us to share in its depth, its mystery, its power, its wonder. So he dedicated himself to his craft, to music itself, and to us who hear it. 

The best leaders are both disciplined and devoted.

Discipline is practicing your skills. Devotion is singing “Nessun dorma” 10,000 times, each time as if your life depends on it. 

I think to him, it did. 

That’s the takeaway: Act with discipline, give with devotion.