3 Things Successful People Do on the Daily
I know success leaves clues. It’s why I’m so interested in the routines and habits of the most successful people. I’ve found once I implement behaviors that have been proven to work, I always experience positive change.
Related: Want to Be Successful? Do These 7 Things in Your Spare Time
And how do I know that these behaviors are proven? Because of the results that they create for tons of successful people―and because they are backed by science.
When a book comes out that distills the routines of the most successful people, I know it’s something that I have to read. One that I recently picked up was Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss’ new book. It’s huge―673 pages long!
Over the past few years, Tim has interviewed almost 200 world-class performers, and he distilled all of these interviews into one book. His interviewees included top athletes, entertainers, doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, authors and researchers.
Three practices stood out to me; three things that almost all of the people interviewed for the book do. But they’re behaviors that most of us never even think about. I want to share them with you so that you can see the secrets of the ultra-successful―and be able to transform your own life using these practices.
1. Meditation
More than 80 percent of the people Tim interviewed have a meditation ritual. And among those who don’t, most have a practice similar to meditation, such as listening to the same song or artist on repeat.
According to Tim, meditation sets you up for success, because “by practicing focus when it doesn’t matter, you can better focus when it does matter.” Based on his interviews, he found that men tend to like Transcendental meditation, whereas women prefer Vipassana meditation.
When I read these facts in the book, I wasn’t surprised. I already knew the Marines use it to become more resilient in war zones and sports teams, such the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks, credit meditation with improved performance.
Meditation is one of the best ways to “control your brain,” and science backs this up. It’s like daily exercise for your brain. Meditation is a way to stop that voice in your head. It’s how you silence the voice that tells you to give up and that you’re not good enough.
It also makes you happier, less depressed and anxious, a better decision maker and more compassionate. Tim recommends starting with the apps Headspace and Calm, seeing which one you prefer, and then devoting just a few minutes a day to this practice.
2. A Morning Routine
I love this quote from Tim: “The first 60- to- 90 minutes of the day handicap the next 12 hours.”
Among those he profiled, most had a morning routine. Laura Vanderkam, an expert on creating habits, found the same thing―that almost all successful people have a morning routine.
Think about a typical morning: You’re rushing, barely get any food in your system, let alone a nutritious breakfast, getting the kids out the door and leaving the house feeling stressed and like you’re already behind. This was how I felt for years, until I implemented a morning routine into my life.
You see, with a morning routine, you have control over how your day begins. This is really important because research out of Wharton and Ohio State shows that your mood in the morning affects your productivity all day.
Instead of putting out fires from the moment you wake up, you have the time to start your day with a positive mindset and gear up for making the most of the day. So what should be in your morning routine? Most of the people in Tim’s book meditate in the morning and many exercise and journal. I like to plan out the one or two most important tasks I have planned for the day―my “must-dos.”
3. Focusing on Your Strengths
This third practice is less of a routine and more of a mindset. Every single one of us is flawed. We’re all human, after all! Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that the most successful people got that way because they are somehow less flawed.
This is an absolute fallacy, one that Tim points out in the book. All of the “superheroes” he interviewed have struggled, just like you and me. The reason for their successes is not because they don’t have weaknesses.
Instead, according to Tim, the most successful among us are “walking flaws who have maximized one or two strengths.” We all have our own individual strengths, and it’s the people who discover their own strengths and really develop them who become the most successful.
They set up habits that align with their strengths. Are you a good writer? Than make writing every day a habit. Is connecting one of your strengths? Then make seeing friends a daily routine. Whatever your unique gifts are, work on strengthening them every single day.
And don’t let your weaknesses get you down. The most successful are the ones who stopped focusing on their weaknesses and instead focused on improving their strengths.
Today I challenge you to try out one of these three practices. Spend 10 minutes meditating, plan out a morning routine for tomorrow, or take 15 minutes and work on your signature strength. You’ll be on your way to success in no time.
Mel Robbins is a contributing editor to SUCCESS magazine, best-selling author, CNN commentator, creator of the “5 Second Rule” and the busiest female motivational speaker in the world. To find out more, visit her website: MelRobbins.com. To follow her on Twitter: Twitter.com/melrobbins
True af
Sweet, I’m already 2/3! Here I come success!
Though this piece is concise it actually conveyed tons of valuable info on being fulfilled in life. I went searching and discovered that meditation actually started with men who walked with God Almighty, Abraham, Isaac his heir (Genesis 24:63). It’s actually God’s invention and directive to all who ever trusted in Him. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; 119:97). Coz it’s divinely ordained so it works greatly. Shalom and grace for sharing to impact others positively.
Thank you for your invaluable advice always priceless.
This is great! I’m gonna start today!
Thank you for sharing this 3 points with me iam so delighted because its what i need the most for sometime in my life.
Thank you; thank you,thank you
Some of you guys leave me stunned – because your names sound Christian but in reality you are anything but – just goes to prove the truth of God’s word that there is nothing in a mere human name or a beautiful / handsome looking face – it’s what’s in the heart that finally counts.
I’m specifically referring to your advice on Meditation!!! Do you know that anything out of Christ and His Word is of the devil? Oh! I forgot you guys are ’successful’ so all that money has blinded you to the Truth so why would you want to talk about Christ and what is True Meditation. I suggest you ask someone to show you Joshua 1:8 and have some selah time over it!!…….But since the real attraction is money and power and having a good time, it is of course natural that you would seek to boldly preach of anything and everything that contradicts God’s Word…..after all the devil did dare to tell Jesus in the wilderness – bow before me and I will give you the kingdoms of the world (because they were his at the time) but you guys forget that the Kingdom has been taken back by Jesus Christ on the Cross and this wealth that you have, because you have bowed to Satan, will one day go ’poof’ before your eyes in a twinkling of an eye and then may be reality will set in that all the wealth of the world truly only belongs to JESUS CHRIST.
And also since you say the US Armed Forces are also using such pagan forms of Meditation – it is no wonder America is going to the dogs!
What will you all not do for money!! You have sold your souls to the devil!
Good lesson for me
awesome piece