My Habits of Success
This post wa prompted by Aaron Potts group writing project about the habits of success.
The dictionary defines success as either
- the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted
- the gaining of fame or prosperity
I like the first meaning as it is measurable, whereas gaining fame or prosperity is not. Either you achieve a goal or you don't, but fame and prosperity are subjective.
I've touched on the habits of success before in general terms in a post I wrote for a group writing project at Darren Rowse's Problogger. Here are some of the specific things I do on a regular basis to help achieve success in my endeavors.
- I plan the major tasks for each day on the previous day. Planning and time management are basic to accomplishing any goal that you set out to achieve. Having the framework of my day completed ahead of time stops the need to wonder what I'm going to do today. I don't usually allot specific time segments to what I'm going to do, but I do allow for the amount of time I think the task will require. Planning is a framework, not a straitjacket.
- I show up. Planning your day is useless if you ignore the plan. Sometimes things happen. We don't consciously plan emergencies, but true emergencies are rare. There is an old saying to the effect that success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. All goal development and task management is useless if you don't act on your plans. Most can be completed if you just stick to them, working each day.
- I always allot time for spiritual practices. Meditation and learning to express gratitude are the main tools I use at the current time. I usually meditate in the morning and work on gratitude throughout the day. Before I go to bed I make gratitude a meditation.
- I exercise. I perform yoga several times a week, and at work avoid the elevators in favor of the steps. This may not sound like much, but the buildings I work in are four to twelve stories tall, and I have to go to the upper floors several times a day.
- I wish I could say I ate well, but I don't. I eat lightly, but due to Crohn's disease I've had to go on a diet that I consider to be atrocious. It makes my wife feel bad when I look at her salad with lust in my eyes.
- I read every day - online and printed work. This opens my mind to new ideas, and takes me out of my normal mental world for a while. Two or three times a week I watch a movie. I spend very little time with the television.
- I spend time with my family. We laugh. We love. We fight. We cry. But without relationships and love freely given, life is ultimately sterile.
- I try to learn from other people, both to avoid what I see as their mistakes, and to emulate their successes.
These aren't the secrets to success. There are no secrets. These are some of the things I do to keep me on track to completing my goals. Debbie (Spirit in Gear), Nneka (Balanced Life Center), Karen (Neurofeedback on the Brain), Robyn (Brain Based Biz), what habits do you have to achieve your goals?
[tags]goals, time management, habits, success, achievement[/tags]
Hi Rick, you have developed some very critical ways that you keep on the pathway to success. It'll be hard to follow this, but I like the challeng and will develop it as a blog to come soon.
You won't have too much trouble, Robyn. Anyone who has earned a Ph.D. has learned, and uses, several important skills that lead to success.
Rick,
I love how you talked about planning being a framework, and not a straight jacket. A critical distinction in my opinion!
Thanks for participating and for putting forth such a great list! :)
Hi Aaron,
Thank you for the opportunity to participate. After everything is put together, it would make the great beginnings of a book.
I've never met a plan that didn't change during the execution. For most things, building in flexibility, especially in terms of scheduling, has been more effective in my experience. I do find that alloting amounts of time to tasks does help, though. That way I don't spend too much time on the things I like, and not enough on the things I don't like, but are necessary to the project.
Wow these were great pointers. These are great ways to stay on track.
Amanda
http://thetimemastery.com
Thank you, Amanda.