Bad Habits
When we think of habit we usually think about bad habits. Even the definition of habit is about something to give up: A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. To us, habits include dieting, quitting smoking, stopping drinking, all habits that are bad. Yes, bad habits need to be recognized and extinguished, but I think the definition is missing a key point.
Great habits can have a profound impact on us but great habits are really hard to cultivate.
Cultivating Great Habits
About a week ago I posted about being an Entrepreneur, Founder, or Employee and by my definition an entrepreneur is someone who deliberately works day-in, day-out. Deliberate work involves painstakingly developing great habits. Yes, people can be born with skills, but those skills need to be honed. Habits are the tool to sharpen your skills.
There are plenty of books, blogs, philosophers, and podcasts that will help in habit formation, I am not going to list them here, but you probably know where you could find them. The point is, there is so much literature on the subject of cultivating great habits because it’s what helps us accomplish success. Habits allow us to put X, Y, and Z together to create XYZ. They are the engine that moves ideas from imagination to reality.
Impact of Great Habits
The development of great habits leads to many successes. The impact of blogging daily has been hugely beneficial to me. Not only have I found blogging to be easier, my writing skills improving, and my thirst for more knowledge constantly growing, it’s become part of my daily checklist. It’s taught me that building the habit creates the mindset that I need to accomplish more.
The foundation that blogging has created, “basement building”, is something bigger than I thought it would be. Instead of thinking I can build a nice two-story house with a garage and maybe a nice backyard, I now see the skyscrapers I can build. The impact has been immense and I’ve realized I need to start applying it to other great habits.
Back to Basics
I am fully aware of the great habits that make me successful. Exercising daily, reading interesting blogs and books, learning about new businesses, drinking less, getting fresh air, and eating Paleo. These are all habits I’ve developed before. Sometimes I get caught up in the rat race of life and don’t do my great habits. But that will not lead me down the path I want to go.
My 30-day challenge: Get back to basics. Exercise, reading, learning, outdoors, strict Paleo and drinking far less are all part of my checklist. For the next 30 days I will mindfully check off each of these things, day-in, day-out. Although it might seem small, these are the things I need to start my next chapter. And within 30 days these habits will become my foundation on which I can start my skyscraper. It starts with getting my basics back.