Self-Mastery plus Productivity Tools

I've been reading back over Robin Sharma's books in the last few weeks. In 'The Wealth Money Can’t Buy', Robin Sharma highlights: productivity is as much about becoming more as it is doing more. His mantra “self-mastery drives excellence” pushes back against hustle culture. Instead of chasing output, he urges us to cultivate inner discipline, emotional clarity, and purpose-driven action.

But how does this philosophy stack up against the practical tools we use every day, like the DISE method that I have developed and its complementary tools, the Eisenhower Matrix, and Eat the Frog? I believe they go hand in hand, and this is why.

What Sharma Means by “Self-Mastery Drives Excellence”

Self-mastery is the art of managing your inner world so your outer performance flows. Sharma defines it through three pillars:

Emotional regulation - the foundation of stability: Productivity isn't just about doing more, rather it’s about doing the right things consistently, even under pressure. Emotional regulation helps you stay calm and composed when things go wrong (missed deadlines, difficult conversations, unexpected changes). When you're emotionally grounded, you make better decisions, avoid burnout, and maintain momentum.

Example: A leader who can stay calm during a crisis is more likely to inspire confidence, think clearly, and take effective action. Reacting impulsively can create more chaos.

Mental discipline - the engine of focus: In a world full of distractions, mental discipline is what allows you to protect your attention. It enables you to engage in deep work — focused, high-quality effort that leads to breakthroughs and real progress. Without discipline, time is fragmented, and energy is drained by task-switching and shallow tasks (20-50% efficiency loss).

Example: A writer that blocks out distractions and commits to a 90-minute deep work session will produce far more meaningful content than one who checks emails every 10 minutes.

Identity alignment - the intention compass: When your actions align with your highest values and vision, your work becomes purposeful and energising. You won't opt to chase short-term dopamine hits (like social media likes or quick wins) but rather build internal motivation, and remove the pull of external rewards or pressure.

Example: An entrepreneur striving the progress his business will prioritise bold, meaningful, strategic projects over reactive less important work.

Adding Self-Mastery to the DISE Method

The DISE method, Deadlines, Information, Sizing, Eisenhower Matrix can be an excellent tactical tool for productivity, but it’s only as effective as the mindset behind it. Here’s how each factor, and 'Eat the Frog' maps to Sharma’s philosophy:

• Deadlines: Provide external structure that supports internal discipline. Self-mastery helps you honour deadlines without panic or avoidance.

• Information: Filters noise from what matters. A self-mastered mind seeks clarity.

• Sizing: Prevents overwhelm and sets realism. Self-mastery breaks tasks into digestible chunks for consistent progress.

• Eisenhower Matrix: Helps resist urgency and reactivity. It helps you to choose what’s important over what’s loud and maintain that approach as new tasks come up.

• Eat the Frog: Requires courage. Self-mastery provides the emotional strength to tackle hard tasks first.

Final Takeaway

Robin Sharma reminds us that productivity isn’t just tactical, it's spiritual too. The DISE method and toolkit are powerful, but they reach their full potential when powered by self-mastery. Intentional usage builds the discipline needed to be effective and always focus on what truly matters ahead of noise.

Useful links:

• BeClearPro.co.uk - The DISE Method: https://www.beclearpro.co.uk/the-dise-method

• The Wealth Money Can't Buy (book) - Robin Sharma: https://amzn.eu/d/9bT276F