Success doesn’t happen in an instant. It happens through the progression of lots
of little successes, strung together over time. If you want to build something big, if you
have a vision, a dream, or even just a clearly defined end goal, the question is not how
you can make that happen right now, or tomorrow. The question is:
“What habits can I put into place that will allow that end goal to manifest itself?” 1. Do what you say you’re going to do. Step 1 with anything: Less talk, more action. 2. Journal once per day. Even if it’s just a paragraph, or three
sentences, or jeez, one sentence, do a quick check-in to see where you’re at and write
it down. Long term, this will keep you grounded and
sane. It all starts with acknowledgement. 3. Never lie. As my grandma used to say, “Oh what a tangled
web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!” 4. Always make time for your closest friends. A buddy of mine manages a few very, very successful
music artists, and he told me once, “I’ve seen it: You could have all the money in the
world, but if you traded your friends to get there, you won’t be happy.” 5. Practice your craft. What may just be a hobby now could one day
be something very special. If you love it, practice it. Don’t be that 40-year-old guy who says to
every young person he meets, “I used to want to be a guitar player!” Well, why aren’t you still playing then?! 6. Go to the gym. Or the yoga studio. Or run up and down the block. Whatever. Just be physically active. There’s nothing sexy about not being able
to walk up a flight of stairs. 7. Surround yourself with people who represent
what you ultimately want to become. This is a habit and a choice. If you aren’t happy with where you’re
at or where you’re going, take a hard look at the people around you. Chances are, they’re in a similar boat,
and as long as you stay in that situation, neither of you are moving any time soon. 8. Read. Seriously. If the only reading you do is on perezhilton.com,
then you need to hit up Amazon and buy a Kindle. 9. Don’t just set goals — track them. One of the most revealing things I’ve ever
done for myself was making a project plan for my life. Yes, a project plan. And all the things I wanted to get done in
the next three months, I planned them out like I would a marketing campaign (I’m not
joking). But guess what? It showed me everything I needed to know,
when things were due, and how much time I needed to spend on them in order to get them
accomplished. Do this more often, and you’ll be amazed
at how much you over-promise and under-deliver — and what needs to happen for you to fix
that habit immediately. 10. Never eat alone. A great book, and an even better motto to
live by. Make use of your lunches and dinners by sharing
in conversation with people you can connect with, collaborate with, and learn from. 11. Dress for success. It’s cliché but true — you have more
confidence when you feel good about the way you’re presenting yourself. Make it a habit to portray your best self. 12. Meditate and reflect. In tandem with the journaling habit, you need
to make time to reflect. You can’t always be in “go go go” mode. Without reflection, you will not be able to
properly integrate the lessons you’ve been learning along the way. 13. Teach others. Even before you feel like you’re an “expert,”
take the knowledge you’ve acquired and pass it along. Not only is it good for humanity, but you
will learn whatever it is you’re teaching even more deeply when you have to explain
it to someone else. 14. Play. When was the last time you went to the beach? When was the last time you did something crazy,
like parasailing? When was the last time you wrote a song on
your ukulele? Take care of that inner child of yours and
make time to play. 15. Eat healthy. What you eat is a habit. You’re going to set a habit and then repeat
that habit daily for a very, very long time. Make that habit take care of you, not drag
you down. 16. Check in with people of different ages. Make sure you keep in touch with those both
older and younger than you. They provide a much-needed perspective. 17. See art. Nobody gets inspired sitting at a desk all
day. Go to museums. Go watch movies. Go listen to live music. Go watch a mime on the street, or an acappella
trio in the train station. Go out and get inspired! 18. Wake up when you say you’re going to wake
up. When you set that alarm the night before,
you’re promising yourself you’re going to get up at that time. Keep that promise. 19. Read your chief aim aloud. I’m stealing from Think and Grow Rich by
Napoleon Hill here: Write down whatever it is you want to build for yourself in life. Then every morning and every night, read that
aloud. Out loud. Hear it in your voice and in your heart. Welcome it into the world.
