The day may have 24 hours of equivalent length but author Laura Vanderkam says not every hour is created equal. Drawing on her own research, surveys of executives, and the latest science on willpower for her forthcoming ebook What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Vanderkam argues that making smart use of the early morning is a practice most highly successful people share.
From former Pepsi CEO Steve Reinemund’s 5 a.m. treadmill sessions, to author Gretchen Rubin’s 6 a.m. writing hour, examples of highly accomplished folks who wring the most from their pre-breakfast hours abound in the book. What do they know that the average entrepreneur might not have realized yet?
“Seizing your mornings is the equivalent of that sound financial advice to pay yourself before you pay your bills. If you wait until the end of the month to save what you have left, there will be nothing left over. Likewise, if you wait until the end of the day to do meaningful but not urgent things like exercise, pray, read, ponder how to advance your career or grow your organization, or truly give your family your best, it probably won’t happen,” Vanderkam writes. “If it has to happen, then it has to happen first,” she says.
Track your time: “Part of spending your time better is knowing exactly how you’re spending it now,” writes Vanderkam, who recommends you, “write down what you’re doing as often as you can and in as much detail as you think will be helpful,” offering a downloadable spreadsheet to help.
Picture the perfect morning: “Ask yourself what a great morning would look like for you,” suggests Vanderkam, who offers plenty of inspiration. Shawn Achor uses the early hours to write a note of appreciation. Manisha Thakor, a personal finance guru, goes in for transcendental meditation. Randeep Rekhi, who is employed full time at a financial services firm, manages his side business, an online wine store, before heading off to work.
Think through the logistics: “Map out a morning schedule. What would have to happen to make this schedule work? What time would you have to get up and (most important) what time do you need to go to bed in order to get enough sleep?”
Build the habit: “This is the most important step,” writes Vanderkam before explaining how to gradually shift your schedule, noting and rewarding small wins along the way.
Tune up as necessary: “Life changes. Rituals can change, too.”
Check out the short-but-useful ebook to learn more details on becoming more of a morning person, as well as additional ideas on how to put those reclaimed hours to use.
What’s your morning ritual?
Have you ever had someone say to you “I would be happy if only I had …”
Benjamin Franklin pointed out that, “The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up to it yourself.”
We have a choice to be happy with our lives and our circumstances. The key to happiness lives within us.
I want to share with you an excerpt from a book I am reading :
The Road to Happiness
by Mac Anderson and BJ Gallagher
When I travel on business, I like to talk to the taxi drivers who take me from the airport to my hotel, or to a convention center, or to a restaurant. Taxi drivers are often immigrants with interesting personal histories and unusual cultural backgrounds. I ask them how long they’ve been in America, how they chose which city to live in, and what they like best about where they live. Of course, I also ask them for advice on good local restaurants and any special attractions they’d recommend to a visitor. I’ve had some great experiences on my travels, thanks to the advice of taxi drivers!
On one trip about ten years ago, I was making conversation with the taxi driver, asking him my usual questions about how he came to live where he lived. Then I asked him a hypothetical question: “If you could live anywhere in the world—and if money was no object—where would you live?”
Without hesitating even for a second, he replied, “I live in my heart. So it really doesn’t matter where my body lives. If I am happy inside, then I live in paradise, no matter where my residence is.”
I felt humbled and a little foolish for my question. Of course he was right—happiness is an inside job. He had reminded me of something I already knew, but had forgotten. If you can’t find happiness inside yourself, you’ll never find it in the outside world, no matter where you move. Wherever you go, there you are. You take yourself with you.
I am grateful for the wisdom of that taxi driver. And I’m grateful for all the wisdom others have shared with me about how to be happy.
If you want to check out the book, Click Here
Here’s to a Happy Life, wherever you live!
I love Zig Ziglar and his passion for helping people realize their true potential. These 6 principles he speaks about really resonate with me.
1. We generally get from ourselves and others what we expect.
What we think about we bring about. If we have low expectations of ourselves or others, that is what we get.
2. The difference between good and excellent companies is training.
With proper training and a system, everyone has an opportunity to achieve success.
3. Actually, companies that do not train their people and invest in their ability don’t last.
Have you ever seen someone succeed at a job without a system for training and mentoring? I haven’t.
4. You find what you look for in life.
No matter what it is, good or bad, we really do find what we look for in life.
5. Never make a promise without a plan.
If you want to make good on your promises, you have to have a plan of how to achieve it.
6. Happiness, joy, and gratitude are universal if we know what to look for.
Each one of us has the same opportunity to find happiness, joy and gratitude. If we help enough people get what they want in life, we will get what we want. I believe that happiness comes from within, not from outside sources. Being grateful for what we have instead of worrying about what we don’t have keeps us from finding joy and happiness.
These 6 principles are from his book – “Born to Win! Find Your Success Code.” Click here to find out more or to purchase the book.
