Hello and welcome. My name is John Killian, and I’m truly glad you’re here.
This website isn’t just a collection of blog posts or productivity tips. It’s the product of a long, hard journey—one marked by anxiety, stagnation, and eventually, change. My hope is that by sharing what I’ve learned, you’ll walk away not only feeling inspired but equipped to build a version of yourself you can be proud of.
At the heart of everything I teach, coach, and live by now is a single, powerful principle: self-discipline.
My Story – Why Self-Discipline Mattered More Than Talent
I grew up in the Northeast of England, in an environment where working hard wasn’t optional—it was survival. But even though I had ambition and the will to improve, something always stopped me.
I had dreams of climbing the ladder, chasing career goals, becoming “someone.” Yet, time after time, I stayed stuck. Applications were left half-finished. Interviews filled me with dread. Even updating my CV felt like trying to push a boulder uphill. And with every missed opportunity came another wave of regret.
I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t incapable. But I was trapped—mentally frozen by anxiety and a lack of self-belief. And most critically, I had no self-discipline to carry me through the days when motivation was nowhere to be found.
Everything changed when my debt became unmanageable. I reached a breaking point, not just financially but emotionally. I could no longer afford to sit back and wish things were different. I had to act. And it was that necessity that forced me to build discipline, brick by brick, day by day.
That journey out of financial chaos was not only about paying off numbers on a page—it was about building a new version of myself. Someone who followed through. Someone who finished what he started. Someone who didn’t rely on fleeting feelings to get things done.
The Truth About Self-Discipline
There’s a harsh truth I had to face, and I’ll share it with you now: self-discipline is not natural for most of us.
It’s not a gift. It’s not something you wake up with one day. It’s built—through routine, failure, discomfort, and repetition.
It’s also the most powerful tool you’ll ever have.
Discipline is what makes you fill out that job application when doubt is screaming at you to stop.
It’s what makes you open your laptop and revise your CV even when you’re tired and frustrated.
It’s what gets you to the gym, gets you reading instead of scrolling, and keeps your promises to yourself—especially when nobody’s watching.
Motivation is a Liar – Discipline is the Truth
We live in a world that glorifies motivation—those exciting, fleeting moments of energy and inspiration. But here’s the kicker: motivation is a liar.
It disappears when things get tough. It won’t show up when you’ve had a bad day, or when your mind is filled with self-doubt. Motivation is unreliable. But discipline, that’s your constant.
Discipline doesn’t care how you feel. It gets the job done anyway.
Once I understood this, everything changed. I stopped waiting for the right mood, the perfect timing, or a magical burst of energy. I built systems. I created routines. I showed up every single day, even when I didn’t want to.
That’s when I saw real progress. That’s when the anxiety began to loosen its grip. That’s when I started becoming someone I respected.
Why I Created This Site
JohnKillian.net exists because I believe ordinary people can do extraordinary things with the right mindset and structure.
After turning my life around, friends and family began asking how I did it. I started sharing tips, building simple frameworks, and guiding people through their own challenges. Before long, casual conversations turned into coaching sessions.
I knew then that if I really wanted to help people—people like you—then I needed a place where these ideas could live and grow.
This website is that place.
Here, I’ll share practical tools, mindset shifts, and real stories about how self-discipline can create freedom, peace of mind, and real progress. Not just in your finances or career, but in your entire life.
A Quick Word to You
If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds good, but I don’t think I’ve got it in me,” let me stop you right there.
I was you.
I used to think I was broken. That I lacked what others had. That I’d never get out from under the weight of my own excuses. But the truth is, I just didn’t know how to build self-discipline.
Now I do. And I’m here to teach you.
Whether you’re struggling with procrastination, anxiety, self-doubt, or just a general sense of being “stuck,” I want you to know something: change is possible.
It starts small. It starts with one choice, one new habit, one promise kept. And it grows from there.
Welcome to your new start. Let’s build discipline—and a better life—together.
– John