“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months, and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” – Alan Armstrong
I love this quote about preparation because it’s also what I tend to think about when I think about habits. Preparation and habits are two pieces of the same puzzle. The definition of a habit is “a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.” One interesting thing about that definition is the suggestion that a habit “is something that is hard to give up.” Hence the old saying that “old habits die hard.”
Habits can either be good and positive, or they can be bad and destructive. I sincerely believe that we are the total sum of our habits, whether good or bad. So, deciding on developing good habits in your life, very early on, will actually go a long way in helping you towards true victory.
For example, if you are in the habit of following a successful morning routine, you are more likely to experience and enjoy higher levels of success. Creating a morning routine will put you in the best position to win. I honestly believe that it’s one of the most important habits you will ever form.
Having studied successful people all my life, the one thing that I can share without fear of contradiction is that successful people tend to get up earlier than most. I wholeheartedly believe that getting up early every day will provide you with a tremendous competitive advantage in every area of your life.
But what if you’ve got some old habits that you want to change? According to the definition, whether the habit is good or it’s bad, it will be difficult to give up. That’s because your brain has a pattern of behavior that it is used to doing, and it doesn’t like any changes in that pattern. Remember, old habits will always challenge you when you decide to replace them with new winning habits. Those old habits will try to drag you back into your old routine. Don’t let this happen. You have the power to change old habits, but you must be willing to put in the effort and you must stay disciplined in your approach to see it through to the end.
Forming good habits is a key to long-term success. So, here are 5 daily habits that I would highly recommend that you put into daily practice to help get you started on your journey towards greatness.
- Wake up early – A beautiful sunrise is most beautiful when you are awake to see it.
- Put your “mental cylinder” in the proper state – Read something positive to begin each day.
- Write out a daily action plan – What are the top 5 things that I must get done today?
- Ask high-quality questions every day – Question yourself up for daily success!
- Analyze and reflect – What went well today and how can I do better tomorrow?
Did I miss any? What habits would you recommend? Let me know in the comments below!
Make a difference today,
Paul Cummings
How can you live a life of real intention and purpose instead of duty and obligation? It All Matters offers one hundred and twenty-five life-changing strategies to inspire you and help you to develop your skill sets, build more knowledge, improve your attitude, and develop work habits that truly pay off. When you read It All Matters, you join me as your personal coach. I'll ask you questions that challenge you to find your "It"...inspire you to define your "All"... and encourage you to begin your journey towards greatness so that you can determine what truly “Matters.”
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