8 Habits to (Re)Establish for Success
There’s no one road to success. However, running your business like a CEO becomes second-nature when you establish and implement habits.
As we just entered a New Year, now’s a really great time to revisit your own habits and re-establish some routines that help you run your business successfully.
Creating a new habit takes time, because they are formed by repetition.
Be patient with yourself!
The key?
Start small and take just one step. Commit to that one change for a certain period of time (say, 30 days) and when that thing becomes a habit, move on to the next level of that habit or another habit altogether.
It’s in these habits that your success lies. And by committing early in the year, you are developing a framework to mark milestones and bigger results all year long.
If you need a little organizational and inspirational pick-me-up to get moving this year, read on to learn the eight habits for success that I use in my life and business to maintain a high level of productivity.
#1 - Establish a Morning Routine
The way you start your day often dictates the way it will unfold. Which means that when you establish the way your morning will unfold the night before, you take control over your day before it even begins.
My morning routine involves waking up before the kids, doing some form of exercise and/or mindfulness, showering and getting dressed (no yoga pants here!) before I head downstairs for breakfast and then work. Initiating this new routine took some time to get used to, but with repetition, it’s now a habit that feels so good and prepares me for the day ahead.
What do you need to include in your morning routine to wake up with determination and an energy of readiness for a day that leads you closer to your goals?
#2 - Secure a Self-Care Routine
It’s hard to focus on anything other than your business when you’re just getting started. However, creating a sense of balance between your personal life and work life is essential. And it starts with how you take care of YOU.
Making self-care a priority prepares your body, mind and spirit to operate at your full potential and access the highest version of yourself. There’s a division between those who have achieved high levels of success and those who continue to struggle, and the way they self-care is a key factor.
Consider: what activities help you decompress and relieve stress? How much sleep do you need? What foods fuel your creativity? What practices provide clarity and leave your body feeling energized?
Once you determine your body’s and mind’s needs, it’s time to dive into making this routine a habit.
#3 - Plan Ahead
Have you heard this saying?
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
If you’re fully committed to achieving the goals you set, creating a plan is essential. Here’s an example of a productivity habit that creates a sense of calm and organization throughout the month:
MONTHLY - Ask yourself what momentum-driving action steps you need to take this month to get closer to your bigger goals? Start by making a color-coded calendar that includes key dates, marketing activities, events, launches and large projects. This gives you a big picture snapshot of what each month looks like and how it contributes to your bigger goals before breaking it down into weekly and daily tasks.
WEEKLY - On Mondays, do a Monday Morning Brain Dump, which is an exercise in looking at the week ahead and making a list of everything you need to do to achieve your mini goals. Collectively, everything you do in each of the four weeks of the month should lead you to reaching your bigger monthly goal.
DAILY - Identify your top three. At the beginning of each day, ask yourself: “What can I do today to get me closer to my goal?” Look at your Monday Brain Dump and choose three tasks to complete for the day, ensuring that at least one of them is revenue-generating (ie. getting on connection calls or sending follow up emails to prospects). Because building revenue is the fuel your business needs to keep going and growing and should always be a top priority!
(Need a planner that walks you through how to set goals and plan? I’ve got you covered!)
#4 - Keep Your Parking Lot Nearby
Do you have a place to store ideas as they pop into your head?
You know how it goes: You sit down to write an email when your brain starts shooting off images and ideas for your next event… and before you know it, you’re in event-planning mode.
Creating and using a ‘parking lot’ is a great way to minimize the urge to switch gears - and the need to get back on track - when these brilliant brain bursts kick in.
I’m obsessed with my Rocketbook notebook and keep it just to the right of my computer mouse all day so I can add notes as they pop into my mind. Whether your parking lot is analog or digital, it is just a platform to hold your ideas while you’re focused on other things.
#5 - Learn When to Say Yes and When to Say No
As a heart-centered woman, you may find yourself saying yes to requests that aren’t in alignment with your goals or the time you have to share with others. (If you’re anything like me, you’re a people-pleaser and hate to let others down.) Believe it or not, this is a habit you have adopted and one you can change - with practice.
Saying yes when you don’t really want to can leave you feeling frustrated and even frazzled with the time you have left for your own priorities. This directly affects your workflow, and we all know that distraction is the killer of productivity!
So rather than always being the YES girl, get into the habit of looking at your schedule and determining if and where that thing fits into your broader vision and goals before making a commitment to it. YES can be okay, when used with intentionality.
#6 - Know Your Numbers
Knowledge is power, and you need the data to make informed decisions about next steps in your business.
In my business, I have a monthly three-step process to (1) collect and record the data, (2) review the data, and (3) identify action steps for the upcoming month as a result of the data -- which, of course, sets in motion the next month’s planning.
So, what kind of weekly or monthly habit can you form to review your numbers?
If you want a framework that’s done-for-you, >> GRAB THE REVENUE ROADMAP WORKBOOK HERE <<. It’s filled with habit-building and data-tracking tools.
#7 - Delegate
It’s natural to love parts of your business more than others. And you’ll always show up with more energy and vigor and get that thing done faster when you stay in that lane of love. So one of the most important habits to adopt is to delegate tasks or complete functions within your business that don’t give you joy or a sense of competency. They are usually the areas that become time-sucks and hold you back.
What can you get off your plate right now to free up time for other more impact-driving activities?
#8 - Practice Gratitude
It’s been proven time and again that expressing gratitude contributes to the way you experience life and the results you create.
The more good you see, the more good you receive.
Sure, your goals are lofty. You have high hopes and expectations for the future. That’s okay. What’s important is that you stop to recognize and be grateful for what you have right now and how you’ve grown.
This can be tough for the naturally negative “Nancies” between us; making this an intentional practice retrains your brain to see and reflect on the good. And that’s good for your life and for business.
When you (re)establish habits that fuel your success - like planning ahead, not committing to more than you can handle, remaining focused, and taking care of yourself - you set the tone for the entire year ahead. And that’s a sure-fire way to achieve your goals and reach a new level of success.
Join us in the REL Community Facebook Group for ongoing support from a community of like-minded women. Let me help you implement, and keep, habits that will drive your success in this new year.