Productivity Boost :: Six Habits of High-Performers
"Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development because success is something you attract by the person you become." - Jim Rohn
Success is something you attract by the person you become.
Woah. I heard that quote listening to a LinkedIn Learning course and WOW does it resonate. That quote is calling me out to make self-development a priority. I feel like most people hope to be successful and strive for that elusive golden ring. But how do we get there? Is there a road map?
During the LinkedIn short course, Pete Mockaitis speaks about “The Six Morning Habits of High Performers” and describes his "Miracle Morning." He had some GREAT advice on how to kick-start your day and adopt habits of high performers. Pete poses questions to help you define your personal definition of success and encourages you to list steps on how to reach your goals.
The “miracle morning” requires waking up at least an hour earlier than you need to start your day (ugh, I hate alarms but this seems worth it). Pete used the acronym SAVERS to help us remember the six habits.
S-A-V-E-R-S
S - SILENCE. Peaceful, purposeful silence. Ease into your morning by sitting in silence and meditating. Actually meditating is an incredible skill most average-Joes do not possess (*points at self*). So, to help focus your silence, set an intention for your meditation (i.e. think about one specific goal for the day - like having a positive attitude at the office or an encouragement for being active that day). Set a timer for 10 minutes and allow yourself to keep notes - it’s amazing what pops into our head during quiet time. But, DON’T FORCE THOUGHT. Engineer space to take in your genius.
A - AFFIRMATIONS. An affirmation is a written statement that directs your focus towards something valuable. They are practical and results oriented. Ask … what is my goal? Why is that goal important to me? How can I achieve this goal? When should I execute this plan / how long will it take to meet my goal? (EX: setting up a training plan for a marathon).
V - VISUALIZATION. Visualize your goal via the journey and then picture the end result. For example, imagine yourself lacing up your tennis shoes, picking the perfect running playlist and enjoying your run. Go there mentally and emotionally before you ever get to your goal. The hardest step is the first one. If you visualize your first step, you’ve moved past the hardest part! Most top performing athletes use this technique!
E - EXERCISE. You can boost your energy throughout the day by moving in the morning (even for 60 seconds!). Try doing some jumping jacks, going for a quick walk or stretching. This will help increase blood-flow to the brain. Plus, everyone benefits from endorphins.
R - READING. We are all one book away from learning everything we need to learn to help improve our life. Eating healthier? There's a book for that. Improving relationships? There's a book for that. A recent study by Fast Company found that, on average, CEO’s read 60 book a year or 5 books a month. I think trying to read at least 10 pages a day is a good goal!
S - SCRIBING. Journal! List three things you're grateful for and three things that will help you make a great day. The Five Minute Journal is a great book to help walk you through these questions. Starting the day with gratitude is a reminder that your life is already awesome. Setting the goals for the day (top three priorities) helps you determine where to focus your energy. And, of course, reflecting on your day holds you accountable and rounds out the feeling of gratitude.
The biggest takeaway for me here was the importance of taking time for personal reflection. How often do we spend time specifically thinking about our hopes and dreams (not just day-dreaming at our desks)? We need to be more intentional about carving out space for these self-development moments. Otherwise, the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day will swallow our free time.