Eliud Kipchoge On Self-Discipline and Success

“Discipline is not a one-time event,” explains Eliud Kipchoge. “Self discipline is like building your muscle. It’s like going to the gym. You cannot go to the gym today and build your muscle. You should get a program and go slowly by slowly—that’s the way to build your muscle. And that’s the way you can cultivate your self discipline. Remember, only the disciplined ones are free in life. If you are undisciplined, you are a slave to your moods. You are a slave to your passions. That’s a fact.”

Eliud Kipchoge, whether he’s chasing the clock in Monza, burying his competitors in Berlin, or telling stories from behind a podium, just has an incredible presence about him that’s hard to accurately put into words. Watch the most dominant marathoner on the planet in enough situations and you’ll know what I mean. The excerpted quote above is from a recent speech he gave to a packed room at the Oxford Union about what it takes to be successful. Kipchoge is well-spoken and articulate. And he speaks much like he competes: with a humble intensity that commands your respect and attention, a quality you can’t help but admire and want to emulate yourself. If you don’t have 50 minutes to watch this bit now, bookmark it for later in the week. It’s well worth your time.