Yesterday a lot of people started a 40-day challenge. During the season of Lent, many of us choose to give up things like chocolate, Facebook, or watermelon. On the surface, fasting is merely the act of intentional sacrifice. But if we look deeper, we’ll probably see that any act of sacrifice is meant to be make us less selfish and create a degree of change in how we think and act.

This month you’ll probably attend a number of dairy conferences and hear a lot of dynamic and inspiring speakers. You’ll drive away from these events energized and ready to take on the challenge of being a better leader and manager.

But then what? Will you actually do anything different that will “stick”? Or… will it just be another short-lived challenge?

Initially, challenges are nothing more than a “good start”. The real value of a challenge is when it becomes and creates a lasting change in your habits.

Let’s say you decide to be more serious about being a better manager.  In order to make that a reality, you’ll need to focus on it for more than a week or two so it becomes a habit. On the surface you’ll focus on the challenge of “following up” with your team every day. Deep down however, you’ll actually need to focus on how your new actions need to become daily habits. Ideally, you’ll create a written plan that states what you’ll do and when you’ll do it. Then, after the first couple weeks of the challenge, you’ll see that you’re successfully creating these new habits.

If you’re truly serious about the new results you desire for yourself over the next 40 days, you’ll see that you truly do possess the power of daily discipline… just like the kind you’re demanding from your employees!