SUPER MILLENNIAL
Do you have a positive routine every day? First off, do you have a routine? What guides your day? Your calendar, a to-do list, or do you just wing it?
Before I quit my six figure job to blog I bought 75 books (thanks, Amazon) that I wanted to read once I became a solopreneur. Last week I decided to read, Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals. At 89 pages it's an incredible read and wanted to share how you can implement these habits into your life easily.
The book focuses on ten habits that a Certified Financial Planner saw consistently among his richest clients. I was quite happy to learn that I was currently doing 9/10 habits!
Habits dictate our days and our lives. Bad habits like not saving money, staying a job you hate, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day or not working out make it hard to succeed in life.
On the other hand, good habits can take your life to a new level. Great habits can make you wealthier, happier, and healthier than you thought possible. This book also emphasizes a lot of what I wrote in my book, Advice For My Younger Self.
Here are the ten best habits to create a life of health and wealth.
#1: Form Good Daily Habits
Success isn't an accident and rarely, if ever, an overnight success. Successful people have much more good habits than they do bad ones. How do you stand in the good vs. bad comparison?
Start by writing down daily habits, both good and bad. For the bad habits change them to a good habit like the picture. Find a way to flip your bad habits to a strength.
#2: Set Goals Regularly
Your goals should dictate each and every day! Set goals every day in the form of a to-do list. I plan out my week every Sunday evening by scheduling each hour with my G-Cal and my goal tracker.
My weekly goal tracker includes a plan for each meal, workout, reading material and what I want to accomplish for my business. I use G-Cal to schedule out each hour of my day to make sure not a minute is wasted.
When you work for yourself you have to have a plan! Even if you're employed you need to be organized to get everything done outside of your 8-9 hours at work each day.
MONTHLY GOALS
Aside from your daily goals, you need to have a slightly bigger picture to help motivate your daily goals in the form of monthly goals. These goals can be performance related at work, how much weight you want to lose, workouts to accomplish, or a family outing.
LONG TERM GOALS
Your long-term goals will be even bigger picture than your monthly goals. These goals can be one, five, ten or twenty years in the future. Think of them as your guiding vision to crush your goals each and every day.
Long term goals will be ones like buying a home (or vacation rental), funding your children's education, or starting a business by a specific age.
#3 Engage in Self Improvement Each & Every Day
Successful people are always reading, learning, and focusing on investing in themselves (LINK to your article). This isn't an occasional activity done here and there. This is a daily occurrence.
Warren Buffett is worth roughly $60,000,000,000 (yes, BILLION) and reads 600 to 800 pages a day. He devotes up to 80% of his day reading and learning.
As good as Netflix is sometimes you need to turn off the TV and read, even if it's for a half an hour each day. If your nights are hectic try to read in the morning before you get too busy. Start reading articles, blogs, or books that interest you or are related to the industry you work in.
My personal goal is three new books per month. Start with one book per month and work your way up! If you need any recommendations here are five books that changed my life.
#4: Devote Part of Each Day Caring For Your Health
What's the point of getting rich if you don't have your health? Sadly, people focus way too much on earning more money and working crazy hours instead of focusing on their health. The goal isn't to be the richest person in the cemetery, it's to enjoy your wealth while you're healthy.
For successful people exercising and eating right is part of their routine every day. As I said in my book, "Winners wake up early." After studying business leaders and CEO's I realized a common trait is getting up early to exercise or read.
Shoot for 30-60 minutes of exercise each and every day. Even if some days are just taking your dog for a long walk, every little bit helps. My exercises include working out daily, sprints, boxing classes, hot yoga, and golf.
Unfortunately, all my activity isn't enough to have six pack as eating is 80-90% of the battle. Successful people make sure their diet consists of quality food, not fast food or microwave dinners.
Everyone gets busy during the week so I recommend meal prepping your lunches on Sunday night. Spend 1-2 hours prepping food and planning your dinners so you're less likely to eat out at night.
#5: Devote to Forming Lifelong Relationships
As much as people like to say they are self-made they likely made tons of connections to help succeed faster. If you go at everything alone you'll struggle. Instead, focus on networking to create great relationships to help you succeed faster.
As Tim Ferriss said, "You are the five people who associate with most. Choose your friends wisely."
Find people who have like-minded goals that you have. Meet people at the gym, restaurants, networking events, or anywhere you can. If you see someone online that is doing what you want to be doing reach out to them. People LOVE helping people!
There is a reason people pay for high priced golf memberships not related to golf. They want to be around like-minded people with similar interest and goals.
It's also the reason successful people have coaches. Even Michael Jordan had a shooting coach, Tiger Woods has a swing coach, and billionaires have "masterminds."
Surround yourself with winners to help motivate you and succeed faster!
#6: Live Each and Every Day in a State of Moderation
Successful people find a way to live each day in moderation. They will celebrate success to an extent but they won't get into a negative state and remain there. They find a way to keep their emotions in check consistently.
When you're sad, mad, or frustrated and making decisions you will probably make poor decisions.
On the financial side, successful people live moderate lifestyles as well. The 20 million dollar home or million dollar Lamborghini's aren't their style. Sure, some people indulge but a common trait among self-made millionaires is a moderate lifestyle.
I'm not saying you need to be so frugal you're cutting coupons when you're a millionaire but find a balance. Try to stay even keel to make consistently good decisions and not overspend to live above your means.
This is a habit that I'm definitely still improving. My old reactions were usually angry and didn't help any situation. After attending a Tony Robbins Seminar I have found much more balance in my life.
#7: Accomplish Daily Tasks Each and Every Day
DO IT NOW!
Humans LOVE to procrastinate or put off things they don't want to do (very guilty). I use to work in sales and found myself pushing out the call I needed to make until the next day. Instead, do the things you don't want to do first off in the morning at work or at home.
This will create a positive habit of not procrastinating and making sure you reach your daily, weekly and monthly goals. Once you create your daily goals make sure 80-90% of all goals are complete. Life happens, if you can't complete 100% of them all the time find time for them the next day.
Besides who doesn't love the feeling you get when you cross off that last item on your to-do list? #accomplishment
#8: Engage in Rich Thinking Each and Every Day
When you think of a successful person do you think of someone who is negative or positive? Someone who is smiling with good posture or someone slouched over with a frown? Are they optimistic or pessimistic?
I think you know the answer. Successful people are positive, constantly smiling, energetic (because of the previous 7 habits), and happy. Of course, everyone has bad days or moments but they aren't often.
Successful people are constantly congratulating themselves internally all the time. How come the only time we celebrate is when sports teams win? We didn't play in the game!
Instead, celebrate your wins in life ALL THE TIME. If you hit your number at work give yourself a high five, pat on the back or enjoy a good meal out. Whenever you reach a goal, small or large, celebrate your wins!
By celebrating your wins your body will release endorphins that make you feel good and want to do it more often. Winning breeds winning.
On the other hand, don't dwell on your losses. As a golfer I have come to understand that a golf round is like life, it doesn't always go as planned! Instead of staying negative after a bad golf tournament, bad day at work, or bad news make it VERY temporary.
Reflect on why the mistake or bad news happened, what you can do now, and focus on finding a solution. Remember, it's only failure if you don't learn from it. Everyone makes mistakes or has bad days, events, or situations in their lives.
Successful people accept it and move on. What good is going to come from being negative for a long time? People don't' want to be around negative people. Find something you appreciate in life, focus on that and get going!
#9: Save at Least Ten Percent of Your Income
If you make a $100,000 a year and spend $100,000 per year your salary is worthless. Successful people ensure to save 10-30% of their income for their savings goals and retirement.
You have to pay yourself first then your bills. Not the other way around.
If your employer offers a 401K make sure to enroll, invest AT LEAST 10% of your pre-tax salary and start contributing. If they don't have a 401K choose a Roth IRA to help fund your retirement. Or, if you're an overachiever contribute to both accounts!
Earning money is important but saving money is equally important. Find ways to cut costs like extra channels on the cable bill, buy generic instead of brand name, and buy items in bulk. Little things add up.
#10: Control Your Thoughts & Emotions
This habit is very similar to number six, living life in a state of moderation. But it's worth noting again as successful people manage their emotions every single day. Humans get so mad over nothing nowadays.
The wi-fi is too slow, the food is taking too long to be served, or the traffic is too heavy. All of these events do suck, don't get me wrong, but focusing on them makes it worse. Instead practice on laughing off little things, staying a good state of mind and not letting the little things bother you.
I promise you it'll help your mood every single day.
SUMMARY
None of these habits are new, mind blowing, or unattainable by everyone. They simply require practice, persistence, and commitment to working for you every single day.
Remember, your life is dictated by your habits. Focus on creating good habits to ensure your reach all of your goals every day, week, month, and year. Stay in a consistently good frame of mind to help make better decisions.
Do you do any or all of these ten habits of success? If so, what are the ones you have seen the most benefit from?
No comments:
Post a Comment