Do you believe with all your heart you will succeed? Do you know what your career passion is? Are you an organizer, a baker, a designer, a communicator, or maybe you are a writer in your core of cores? There are hundreds of things that someone can be undeniably drawn to in life; it may take a while to find what that connection is or not, but once you find it, it is as though the clouds have been peeled away to reveal the sunlight. You are proud to talk about yourself as the description you know yourself to “BE”, and to connect with others as that person. You are eager to get up in the morning and do what it is you do. You are going to be the best at what it is you are doing. YOU ARE GOING TO SUCCEED! To be successful does not only require knowing what it is you love doing, but doing it…doing it all the time-like it is a habit. It is exceptionally rare when early successes are able to sustain themselves. It is important to gather and maintain your clarity so that you are able to keep on keepin’ on.
Besides one’s passion, being able to repeat and repeat is the key to success…it becomes a habit. As Aristotle said “We are what we repeatedly do”. It’s important that while you have your passion you focus on what it is you want to achieve with that passion, and continue to push yourself…do not quit until you get to where you want to be. You should set goals for yourself on that road to success in order to feel that sense of accomplishment along the way. As you move to gain fulfillment, remember to make a habit out of your daily rituals in order to reach your goals. In The Power of Habit written by Charles Duhigg, he shows how the right habits were crucial to the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civil-rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. He goes inside Procter & Gamble, Target superstores, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and NFL locker rooms, to show how so-called keystone habits can earn billions and mean the difference between failure and success. It is an inspirational and educational read.
Here are some other famous people habits:
Jerry Seinfeld-in his early comedy days began to make a habit of repetition, he realized it was the key to improvement. He says that “after a few days you have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You will like seeing that chain grow, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Get a big calendar and a red maker, then mark an “X” on each day you work on your goal or habit. Seeing those red X’s will motivate you to keep going. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”
Bill Gates-has a habit of reading for 1 hour as part of his bedtime routine. Reading helps you learn from the mistakes and successes of others. Instead of just diving in and relying on your gut feelings to motivate you all the time, reading gives you a mental road map so you can circumvent the amateur mistakes people make in their lives, helping you succeed.
Anna Wintour–Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief has a habit of playing tennis one-hour a day. Successful people have the resources to do what they need to keep themselves fit. They could have spa treatments, botox, but exercise is still a part of their daily habits. It keeps your body and your brain health; it will minimize stress and improve your memory.
Beethoven–had a habit shared with many creative thinkers, he would rise before 8A, work until midday, then take a break to have a meal, then take a long walk afterward to reflect. All the writers, and powerful visionaries have kept similar schedules for decades. Keeping a schedule…having a system is key to getting things accomplished.
E.B-White–author of Charlotte’s Web, would not wait for ideal conditions to come together. “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” This advice applies to us all. Next time you do not feel like working, keep calm and force yourself to work for just 15 minutes and see what happens. This usually will give you the boost you need. It will become a habit.
Ben Franklin–took the time every evening around 9P to answer his daily question: “What good have I done today?” Make a habit of recording your daily successes and frustrations. Taking the same time every day to take inventory of your daily activities can help you prioritize your goals and maintain the clarity you need for your next day.
Tim Ferriss-author of the 4-Hour Work Week, says: “we read and answer emails all day long which does not make us more productive, if anything you are just being responsive”. To minimize distractions, he suggests making a habit of checking your email twice a day: 11A and 4P, or after you have completed at least one critical item on your to-do list and once more before the end of your workday.
Start setting some of these habits into motion if you have not already done so. Let them help speed your passion towards the success you envision.