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Self-Improvement Is Not Selfish

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]A little louder for the people in the back….

Self-improvement is not selfish.

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein

September Self Improvement Series:

Self-improvement is not selfish. Out of all of the lies I wish people would stop believing, this one is at the top of my list. Far too often, we say yes to everyone else and leave nothing for ourselves. We teach and we lead, we guide and we love those around us, but if we don’t do these things for ourselves, we’re doing our families and our businesses a disservice.

When you focus on self-improvement, everyone wins. When you establish healthy habits and rituals, you feel more balanced and in control. When you feel more balanced, you are better equipped to help others find their balance and manage them well.

When you focus on self-improvement, you become a better team player. When you set and reach personal goals, you’re more confident setting and achieving goals as part of a team.

When you focus on self-improvement, you learn more about yourself. Being intentional about stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to discover strengths and passions that you never knew you had. Taking a good hard look at your weaknesses can be uncomfortable, but when you work through them, you’re a changed person on the other side.

When you have a more in-depth understanding of who you are (and your WorkExpression, more on that later), you can walk confidently into any work task or business meeting and know exactly how your strengths can be used to move the company forward.

So, one more time. Self-improvement is not selfish. It’s productive, and it’s hard sometimes, it’s exciting, it’s valuable, it’s necessary, it’s beautiful. It is a lot of things, but it is not selfish.

Let that go. Focus on being the best version of you. And watch everything else fall into place.
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More of what you do is more of what you become.

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]I was flipping through an old notebook of mine yesterday and saw a note scribbled in one of the margins. It’s my handwriting, and my notebook, so I know I wrote it, but I don’t remember where I heard it. The note said:

Success is a habit. 

More of what you do is more of what you become.- Joel Brown

I probably wrote it down because I am such a big believer in the power of habits and rituals. I firmly believe that the small, intentional decisions we make play the most significant role in our success. Or in our failures. As we continue in our September Self Improvement Series, this quote got me thinking about some of the things I know to be true when it comes to the habits and rituals we allow in our lives:

Your success boils down to creating good habits that you can execute daily. You don’t need to uproot your entire life or drastically change your lifestyle or routine. You simply need to develop a healthy and productive morning routine and evening routine. If you can start and end your day in a way that makes you feel confident, healthy, and productive, you will see dramatic results in the middle part of your day as well. 

If your morning starts stressful and hectic, the rest of your day will probably follow the same way. If you find the mornings are hard for you and that everything seems rushed and frantic, consider setting your alarm for a half an hour earlier. Thirty minutes won’t make much of a difference in how much rest you get, but it could be a game-changer for how you can prepare for your day. Giving yourself this extra 30 minutes to get ready without rushing, workout, journal or meditate, or even respond to a few work emails is a simple habit that can dramatically change the flow of your day.

The way you unwind from your day also plays a big part in how you start the next one. If you are up late or find yourself lost in unproductive screen time until the wee hours of the morning, it will negatively impact the way you sleep and the way you start the following day. Creating a calming evening routine can help you de-stress from the day, connect with family, and help you get a better night’s rest.

These simple changes, done over time, will become habits. These habits will be what sets you apart from the competition. If you are serious about self-improvement, you will take a good hard look at your habits and rituals and analyze them carefully. Are the habits and routines you have in place helping you get to your goals or keeping you from them? 

Many of the habits we have are so ingrained in us that we don’t even know we’re doing them. We eat when we’re not hungry, we gossip, we bite our fingernails, we’re consistently late, we can’t stay off of our phones for more than 3 minutes. Once we can identify the habits that are keeping us from being our best selves, we can be intentional about breaking them and making space in our lives for better ones.

My challenge for you this week: Listen to my short YouTube video about the power of habits and rituals. Then take a moment to analyze your life and your habits and pinpoint one bad habit that you want to change or one good habit that you want to start. Finally, tell someone you trust about this change that you want to make and ask them to hold you accountable.

Success is a habit.
More of what you do is more of what you become.

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Never Miss a Monday

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit” -Will Durant

Happy Monday!

You know what today is, right? Yes, it’s Monday, but it’s also the first of the month. There is no better time to start a new habit, kick an old one or start something fresh than on a day like today. Today is oozing with opportunity. You won’t get another clear starting line like this until April 1st (and let’s be honest, that’s April Fools Day, and nothing serious is happening that day!)

When you’re starting a new habit, it’s crucial that you never miss a Monday. Do whatever it takes to make sure your Monday is used as a jumping off point for your new habit, as it sets the tone for the rest of the week.

If you are waiting for the stars to align or for the perfect set of circumstances to appear before you make a change, you’ll be waiting forever. Today, Monday, October 1st, is a great day to start new habits that will get you to the next level.

Deep in your subconscious, your mind is working on a set of beliefs that it believes to be fact. These beliefs are based on the continuous thoughts you have about a specific area of your life, thoughts you’ve probably had since childhood. These beliefs influence your actions, and when you do these actions over and over, they become habits. Your life, where you are and what you’re doing, is a direct result of the habits and rituals in place in your life.

They say it takes 21 days to make something a habit. You can do just about anything for 21 days.  3 weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things, and if you can set a solid foundation for productive habits that will elevate in this short time period, why wouldn’t you? Your competition’s doing it.

Some habits and rituals that you could start today that would radically change things 21 days from now include:

  • Starting a workout routine
  • Getting up an hour earlier to get a jump start on your day
  • Putting your phone down when you get home to connect with your family
  • Reciting positive and empowering affirmations on your way to work
  • Being intentional about expressing gratitude every day

Today is also a good day to kick some bad habits, such as:

  • Gossiping around the office
  • Eating fast food throughout the week
  • Procrastinating
  • Micromanaging
  • Overworking

October 21st is going to come whether you commit to new habits or not. 21 days from now, do you want to be right where you are? Or do you want to be on the fast track to bigger and better things?

One action step you can take today to take control of the habits in your life is invest $15 in Walter’s innovative No One Can Stop You But You digital download. This engaging program will show you how to put practices, habits, and routines in place that will get you to the next level.

Not tomorrow, not next week, TODAY.

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