Young Latino man learning how to use chat gpt for business on his tablet

AI &amp; Technology

AI &amp; Technology Archives

AI &amp; Technology | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Not long after ChatGPT launched, I watched author Jordan B. Peterson on TikTok discuss&nbsp;what a remarkable tool it is.



Peterson had written a book called <a href="https://amzn.to/3ShN2PE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">12 Rules for Life</a>, and he said that he asked ChatGPT to “write me an essay that’s a 13th rule … written in a style that combines the King James Bible with the Tao Te Ching. … It wrote it in about 3 seconds… and it wasn’t obvious to me… that I didn’t write it.”’



A bold claim. If he was impressed by artificial intelligence’s literary prowess, perhaps I should take note. I headed to ChatGPT and typed.



“What is the meaning of life?”&nbsp;



It gave me a vague answer, but it was well written, impeccably punctuated and, notably, absent of the telltale weirdness that usually comes with a computer algorithm. It was lightning fast too.



I tried a few more queries only to get some fourth-rate copywriting, then I wrote it off as a cute novelty and forgot all about it for six months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-chatgpt-do-my-homework-or-annihilate-humanity">Will ChatGPT do my homework or annihilate humanity?</h2>



But we can’t forget about <a href="https://chat.openai.com/auth/login" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT</a>, can we? OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, reported&nbsp; having attracted one million users just five days from its launch, something that took Instagram 2½&nbsp; months. As of August 2023, ChatGPT had more than 180 million users and boasted over 1.5 billion monthly visits.



At the same time, we’re bombarded with warnings that artificial intelligence (AI) is dangerous and needs to be avoided. However, ChatGPT is a chatbot, and unless you envision an army of Terminator-philosophers debating us into extinction, I wouldn’t worry about this AI.&nbsp;



Let’s leave <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/is-chatgpt-ethical/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ethical investigations for another article</a>. I wanted to know whether AI could be useful in business.



What’s a chatbot? I’m not a tech writer, so I’ll give you the lay version: It’s a computer program that’s been fed all the information on the internet that you can “talk” to (by typing) and get helpful answers.



I started out knowing ChatGPT can do your writing for you: college essays, computer code, a thank-you note to your babysitter. But many late-night TikTok videos later, I noticed people using it in increasingly creative ways. Human ingenuity isn’t obsolete, after all.



For example, “Create a 30-day social media calendar and captions for five posts per day. Include prompts that I can plug into Midjourney [another AI] to create the images for these posts.”&nbsp;



And, voilà! You have 150 Instagram posts that would normally take a human team days to create.



I started to wonder—could a non-tech solopreneur like me <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-use-ai-to-make-money/">use AI to grow my business</a> coaching practice? There was only one way to find out. I challenged myself to get my hands dirty with these tools for 30 days and report back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-non-tech-guy-s-experiments-with-chatgpt-in-business">A non-tech guy’s experiments with ChatGPT in business</h2>



An <a href="https://news.mit.edu/2023/study-finds-chatgpt-boosts-worker-productivity-writing-0714" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT study</a> reports that using ChatGPT for work tasks can reduce time to completion by as much as 40%. I wanted to experience that increase in efficiency, so I set some goals. For 30 days, I would use AI to:



<ul>
<li>Create a new lead magnet for my website</li>



<li>Write 10 Instagram stories</li>



<li>Write 10 blog posts</li>



<li>Create a complete sales funnel for the Costa Rica retreat I’m launching</li>
</ul>



My hope was that by using ChatGPT as a rough-draft generator, I could save myself hundreds of hours and scale my one-person business without paying a fortune to freelancers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-1-hey-chatgpt-write-me-a-lead-magnet">Experiment #1: Hey ChatGPT, write me a lead magnet!</h3>



A lead magnet is something valuable that you exchange for a prospect’s contact information, so you can market to them. It’s commonly a checklist, guide, e-book, quiz or webinar. The lead magnet on my website was three years old and showing its age, so I started there. First, I upgraded to <a href="https://openai.com/gpt-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT 4</a>, the smarter $20-per-month version.



I asked it to write me a one-page checklist and gave it plenty of detail about me, my business and ideal client because I know that the quality of the output depends on what you feed it. After a few frustrating attempts, I had the copy I wanted. I sent this to a graphic designer on Fiverr and set it up as a pop-up download on my website.



The results:



So, how did it perform compared to its meticulously crafted, yet aging, predecessor? In the last 30 days, the new pop-up had a 0.8% conversion rate compared to 1.92% for old faithful. Not encouraging.



In ChatGPT’s defense, my website traffic is probably not high enough to make statistically sound conclusions. Time will tell.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-2-write-10-instagram-story-captions">Experiment #2: Write 10 Instagram story captions</h3>



Any tool that can save me hours per week would be priceless. But was I willing to put AI’s words in my mouth? On video? On the internet? As a literary snob, I found this uncomfortable. But for the experiment, I was willing to temporarily check my ego.



I asked for captions that would generate engagement and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-tips-for-rapid-social-media-growth-in-2022/">turn followers into clients</a>. And I added “please” as a hedge against that Terminator scenario. What it produced was not at all in line with my voice, but sounded more like a high-school cheerleader: “Ready to make a real impact in your industry and feel immense pride in your business? It's time to shine!” It even added a rainbow emoji for good measure.



Well, anything for the experiment, right? I pasted this copy on top of some videos of me doing random things.



The results:



Two of these Instagram stories became my most popular in the last 30 days. Was that because of AI’s hypnotizing copywriting or the thirst trap of me shirtless on the beach? I have a biased answer here, so we’ll call this highly unscientific experiment inconclusive, but encouraging.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-3-write-10-blog-posts">Experiment #3: Write 10 blog posts</h3>



I like to think I have a great work ethic, but I’ll admit I only created three posts. It takes a while to see a payoff from blogging—if ever—and as a perfectionist, I can spend hours editing. I was uncomfortable publishing AI’s work under my name, so I didn’t. I also included a disclaimer that ChatGPT did the first draft.



What all those excuses really mean is that I procrastinated. Still, publishing three articles in a month is above my normal batting average.&nbsp;



The results:



Did these three blog posts attract readers to my website? Combined, they generated... wait for it... 64 views (sad face). It was a massive flop, but there was a silver lining.



In the process of teaching myself to use ChatGPT for business, I learned much more about search engine optimization (SEO). I found a tool called <a href="https://neuronwriter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NeuronWriter</a>, where you can plug in the text of your article and get an SEO score before you publish—along with word-by-word recommendations for how to improve the article to increase your rankings in Google Search.



Again, SEO blogging is a long-term strategy, and if I had a full-time staff person using AI to pump out blog content, I can see how powerful these tools could be when used together.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-4-build-an-entire-sales-funnel">Experiment #4: Build an entire sales funnel</h3>



Halfway through my 30-day experiment, my wife and I decided to collaborate on a new project. We’re organizing a seven-day life transformation retreat in Costa Rica in January, something so huge and exciting that I may need prescription drugs. But enthusiasm only carries you so far, and eventually, it was time to write the sales page, so I called on ChatGPT.



After the lackluster results with the previous experiments, I realized I needed to learn how to use my tools more effectively. I joined a four-hour webinar about AI run by a large marketing agency that seemed to know how to speak AI. They taught specific prompts for ChatGPT to get exactly what I wanted, including:



<ul>
<li>How I could feed it my best writing to create a style guide so everything going forward sounds like me</li>



<li>Why I should start by asking for an overall marketing strategy before I ask for individual components&nbsp;</li>



<li>How to ask different questions to get ChatGPT’s best work, e.g., “Act as a master direct response copywriter conducting product and market research… ”</li>
</ul>



I also learned how to get around the software’s word count limits by simply asking it to wait until I say “next” before tackling the next piece in the strategy.



I crafted a series of queries and cleared my entire day to mess around. After only two hours, I had the copy for a squeeze page, a 12-page sales page, 20 social media posts, 11 marketing emails and ad copy. And it all sounded like me! If your jaw isn’t on the floor yet, know that work like this would likely take a marketing team two weeks and cost thousands of dollars. Compare this to two hours and $20.&nbsp;



Are you starting to see the potential yet?



The results:



The sales copy has gone to a freelance web designer and we’ll review it together before we start selling. Again, time will tell, but I’m extremely optimistic and grateful to have found a tool that is exponentially boosting my productivity like two or three full-time employees would.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-should-entrepreneurs-bother-learning-how-to-use-chatgpt-for-business">Should entrepreneurs bother learning how to use ChatGPT for business?</h2>



Only you can decide whether AI fits into your business strategy. If you work with your hands, maybe not. If you’re a programmer, you’d better learn this new skill set or risk being replaced—much of the code being written today is produced with help from A.I.



One caveat: If you expect to simply offload tasks to AI, you’ll be disappointed. “Hey ChatGPT, write me a blog post” will produce vanilla garbage. Learning how to ask it to write a blog post the way you want can create a masterpiece.



Your results will be better if you use this as another tool in your kit and take the time to learn how to use ChatGPT for business effectively.



I’ll continue wielding my new tools through practical application. I’m <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/our-ai-coworkers/">treating AI as a helper</a>, not as a replacement for my own effort. Here’s how I plan to use it:



<ul>
<li>As a rough draft and idea generator for blog posts, sales pages and social media copy</li>



<li>As my video editor for creating short-form content with <a href="https://www.vidyo.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vidyo.ai</a></li>



<li>As a researcher for new product and business ideas</li>



<li>As my graphic designer for creating original images from text with <a href="https://www.canva.com/ai-image-generator/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canva</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



I’ve also discovered ChatGPT plug-ins that give it new superpowers:



<ul>
<li>Expedia, for finding the best flights</li>



<li>Bramework, for SEO analysis of all my webpage copy</li>



<li>Zapier, for connecting ChatGPT to my other apps</li>



<li>Image Editor, for doing simple image work without Photoshop</li>



<li>Meme Generator, for when I get tired of real work</li>
</ul>



You might be resistant to integrating AI with your business, and that’s the beauty of human free will.&nbsp;



But rather than be the last horse-and-buggy driver in a Tesla world, why not experiment with some promising new tools before you write them off?



Photo by GaudiLab/Shutterstock.com

I tested AI in my coaching business for 30 days. Here’s what I learned about how to use ChatGPT for business—pros and cons included.

I tested AI in my coaching business for 30 days. Here’s what I learned about how to use ChatGPT for business—pros and cons included. | SUCCESS

I Tested ChatGPT in My Business for 30 Days—Here’s What Worked Well (and What Didn’t)

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How to Use ChatGPT for Business: Lessons From a 30-Day Test | SUCCESS

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I help heart-led entrepreneurs start + grow businesses that improve the world. Instagram: @mpbizcoach

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Michael Pietrzak

Close up photograph of a man in a suit with his hand over a glass of whiskey to symbolize quitting drinking

Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

I can still taste that first drink at 15 years old: a light beer liberated from my friend Peter’s fridge while his parents were out of town.



By the third can, my body hummed and my mind swam slow backstrokes. Stroked by alcohol’s gentle hands, I was in love for the first time.



It was a rapid progression from watery beer to Gatorade bottles full of 40% spirits—rum in one hand, vodka in the other and no chaser. The smell of cheap vodka still makes me gag.



Though I eventually moderated my teenage excess, it would be 25 years before I quit for good, on January 15, 2022.



I drank heavily but never identified as an alcoholic, never let it ruin my life, never needed rehab or AA. So why give up a good thing?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-don-t-need-to-stop-drinking-alcohol">You don’t need to stop drinking alcohol</h2>



Nothing I say is intended to convince you to stop drinking, or even cut back. All I can do is share how being alcohol-free these last 18 months has gradually but dramatically improved my business and life.



I built my first business in university and got hooked on entrepreneurship. I jumped in and out of the nine-to-five world for fourteen years, but every time I was chained to an office I dreamed of being the captain of my own ship. So, I got good at tendering my resignation.



Sometimes I had financial runway and a plan. Other times, just a wild impulse. My early business building followed a pattern: a week of celebrating my new boss-less status and major productivity. Then, waking up late and quitting early. Feeling overwhelmed, taking a nap and experiencing creeping panic. Drink and stay up late. Repeat.



In those days it was obvious how alcohol was blocking my business success. But eventually I quit smoking and got my drinking “under control.” I found my future wife and bought a house. All was well, right?



But is being a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/drinking-with-colleagues/">responsible drinker and an entrepreneur ever compatible</a>?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-i-started-to-ask-should-i-quit-drinking">I started to ask: should I quit drinking?</h2>



When the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown came, other people got hysterical about toilet paper. I headed straight to the liquor store for boxes of wine. I made it a habit to pour myself a glass or three of cheap red every night (you get used to it).&nbsp;



Then something interesting happened: Alcohol... stopped working.&nbsp;



No more did I feel the same warm embrace I did at age 15—it just made me sleepy.



After two years of this, I took a solo Airbnb trip to escape new-dad responsibilities, read and get into a case of delicious craft beer. But halfway through the third can, it hit me: I wasn’t enjoying it; I was only there drinking so I could avoid my work and life. I poured the rest down the kitchen sink and decided I was done(ish).



In the last year and a half, I’ve touched alcohol three or four times. Once to excess—three drinks in Mexico last April. But each time it served only as a reminder: Yep, I’m over it.&nbsp;



So how did I do it?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-i-stopped-drinking">How I stopped drinking</h2>



Inertia and addiction kept me drinking long after the relationship was dead. Then a book landed in my lap: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Naked-Mind-Discover-Happiness/dp/0525537236/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Naked Mind</a> by Annie Grace.



First, it laid out all the science: Alcohol slows your thinking, and was probably causing my low mood and marital bickering. Constantly poisoning my body weakened my immune system and explained why I got sick every few months. It was messing up my sleep and my workouts. It causes cancer, but even worse, bad sex.&nbsp;



Now I had all the rational reasons to quit. But what I learned from beating cigarettes years before was that you need to engage emotion, too, which the book did.



It helped me see that alcohol wasn’t relieving my stress, but creating it. Much of my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm for my life and business was simply daily withdrawal symptoms.



I realized that alcohol didn’t create fun; it killed it. Be sober around drunk people and you’ll see what I mean. I felt completely ready.&nbsp;



So I let it go.



I still hang out with friends who drink. I still go to bars, still keep wine and beer in the cupboard for guests. And there’s no temptation, because I realize now that for 25 years I was living as a half-man, asleep at the wheel, foggy in the brain, tired all the time, cranky and tempestuous.&nbsp;



What was I really giving up?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-i-saw-major-benefits-from-quitting-alcohol">I saw major benefits from quitting alcohol</h2>



There was no overnight awakening or angels’ trumpets, no sobriety committee waiting to give me a medal.



I felt no different the day after <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/i-gave-up-drinking-for-lent-and-here-are-the-5-things-i-learned/">I quit drinking</a>. But weeks later I started to notice changes, mainly in what was not happening.



Before, I would have a drink after work, feel sluggish for the rest of the night and engage in some horizontal Netflix.



Now, I have the energy and enthusiasm to enjoy my post-work hours, whether that means cooking for friends or kayaking alone. It’s like I have more hours in the day. And we canceled Netflix.



Before, I’d go to bed and wake up around 3 a.m. with gnawing anxiety and a need to pee, before rising hours later, groggy and dreading the day.



Now I sleep through the night, wake up easily at 6 a.m. and feel excited for what I’m about to do with the day.



Today I have no fewer problems, but I have twice the energy, 10 times the enthusiasm for life and a virtual absence of anxiety, self-doubt, mood swings or any of the nonsense that I now know was caused by constantly <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-alcohol-recovery-67761" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poisoning my brain chemistry</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-my-business-became-successful-when-i-quit-drinking">My business became successful when I quit drinking</h2>



These life shifts are great, but hands down the most noticeable change has been the night-and-day transformation of my business.



Even as a moderate drinker, I approached work with low-grade anxiety and dread. That energy bled into the client experience.&nbsp;



Before, it was often “I don’t feel like working today” (pout face), frustration with clients, panic about where the money would come from, low-energy sales, doubt, fear, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-to-do-when-you-dont-feel-like-doing-anything/">depleted energy</a> and a frazzled nervous system.



Clients can sense whether your business is built on this chaos or enthusiasm and joy.



A few months ago, I had a call with a client who signed up for a three-month program. But days passed and her invoice wasn’t paid. Old me would have been demoralized, certain that she had a change of heart. I’d get angry and complain. Maybe I’d even send a passive-aggressive email.



But to my surprise, I noticed no anger. No panic. I felt certain of a great outcome. My email to her was supportive, compassionate and firm. She paid the next day.&nbsp;



Carrying this calm energy, I’m <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/master-the-sales-mindset-to-land-your-biggest-clients/">magnetic to my coaching clients</a>. They want to be around my vibe. They’re getting better results, and they tell their friends. More good people, money and opportunity flow to me. Virtuous cycle, anyone?



The old me had a business that was in survival mode—desperately chasing clients, trying every flavor-of-the-week marketing tactic and seeing little traction.



New me works far fewer hours but is way more effective. I’m more selective about clients and I can charge more. Hey, I’m even having fun now.



All I had to do was kick off alcohol’s lead blanket.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-should-you-stop-drinking-alcohol">Should you stop drinking alcohol?</h2>



If you love drinking, don’t stop. Find happiness whatever way you can!



But if you read this and saw your own shadow in some of what I said, I hope this gives you the curiosity to start questioning the habit.



The accepted wisdom is that “responsible” drinking is normal and harmless. But you know that buying into popular narratives will never get you where you want to go.



You are the captain of your own ship.







Photo by NTshutterth/Shutterstock.com

I knew cutting alcohol could help my health, but what I didn’t expect were the extensive business benefits of quitting drinking.

I knew cutting alcohol could help my health, but what I didn’t expect were the extensive business benefits of quitting drinking. | SUCCESS

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older woman thinking about ways to develop a growth mindset

Learning how to develop a growth mindset can speed you toward success, and experimentation can help you uncover the best growth strategies.

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12 Efficiency Secrets of the World’s Busiest People

Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

Is “having it all” inseparable from chaos? Yes, but no. Some disarray is built into the pursuit, but you can take back control. Here are 12 efficiency secrets for busy people like you

Is “having it all” inseparable from chaos? Yes, but no. Some disarray is built into the pursuit, but you can take back control. Here are 12 efficiency secrets for busy people like you | SUCCESS

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Not a single blank space in my calendar. That’s what I saw one Sunday night while reviewing the week ahead of me. I had filled every waking 30-minute block with some productive commitment. Nirvana? No. Existential dread? Yep.



I had finally turned myself into the efficiency robot that I’d unwittingly been building for years, a kind of Lean Frankenstein. I had entombed myself in my own supposed productivity. There’s a comedic hopelessness that comes from knowing you’ve robbed yourself of the little joys that make life worth living, like time to go to the bathroom.



I decided I could do what I normally do in these running-at-the-red-line situations: cancel all my meetings, and start an inner rebellion from the war room of my man-cave futon. I would binge on some TV show with a wildly irresponsible male lead, someone who keeps no calendar but still gets all the girls. A man who suffers—but in style, whose adventures make my life look like hard labor. Thanks, Californication.



No, not this time. I have no time to be a man-child with you today, Hank Moody. I have to fix my life (is probably what I said at the time).



Peering through a small crack in the nearly impenetrable chain mail of my Google Calendar, I saw on the other side my subconscious, screaming that there must be <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-habits/">a better way to live</a>.



<h2 id="h-1-the-burn-box">1. The burn box</h2>



The first emissary in the ceasefire of my revolt came in the form of a two-by-two matrix. By happy coincidence, I had been reading Neil Pasricha’s book <a href="https://amzn.to/3SDcHR4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Happiness Equation</a>. In it, he lays out a scribble with four quadrants. On one axis is “doing,” high and low. On the other is “thinking,” high and low. We are always in one of four boxes.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/2xxZCIQPT5EH1k9u0eUfGSfKF6PNvbyajQh8I6GgSNAGlXvqq8TFkUqsuRZDTEkWhjTz0KTh25sdGwEEuJtFrJHC8y1S-Sxd8zwEP-YrP2vKXzLXBklBTuEYGfNP60Vhi-R_QwAU_TvKUx-5ljd05Gg" alt="Work Less. Do More."/></figure></div>



I had been living in the Burn Box, a state of high doing and high thinking. My inner boilerman had been shoveling highly flammable goals into my burn box at an irresponsible rate, and I was one Pomodoro away from <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-prevent-burnout/">running off the rails</a>.



It was lucky, then, that Pasricha taught me about those other three beautiful quadrants:



<ul><li>The Space Box is the perfect opposite of Burn: low thinking, low doing. It’s the sandy beach vacation, or a cold beer with your feet hanging off the dock, up at the lake.</li><li>In the Think Box, our mental fires are raging but we’re not doing much of anything. We’re thinking. Journaling. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/maintaining-friendships-is-hard-heres-why-its-crucial-for-your-well-being/">Talking to a friend</a>.</li><li>The Doing Box is pure activity—building a shed or climbing a mountain—and not letting the lazier parts of our mind have a say in it.</li></ul>



Successful people move freely and often between these boxes.



Achieving success some of the time is easy. But if you want to sustain it over several years, you need to pick up a fire extinguisher and visit the kinder, gentler boxes from time to time.



<h2 id="h-2-protected-play-and-the-unschedule">2. Protected play and the unschedule</h2>



Neil Fiore is an expert in motivation. He has a doctorate in getting stuff done* and has spent a lifetime studying procrastination to beat it. What’s his recipe for accomplishment? Get organized? Pharmaceuticals? A special project management app?



No. His No. 1 dictate for sustained productivity is… start with a firm commitment to guilt free play. Huh?



Yes. He recommends that when scheduling your week, poker, video games and beers with friends get slotted in first. He calls this “The Unschedule.”



“That’s right, you can be more productive if you play more!” he says in his best-selling book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3BMFDQv" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Now Habit</a>.



Most top producers’ activity is what Fiore calls workaholism—the constant, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-find-freedom-from-toxic-hustle-culture/">diligent grinding away at tasks</a> until our tools are blunt and we’ve become coffee-fueled, sleep-deprived automatons.



The antidote is to ensure we do not put off the best things in life, like spending time with your kids—or having five minutes of peace away from them.



Why does the unschedule work? Because when you know that your hairiest tasks will be interrupted by immovable commitments to fun, you can approach work without the dread and overwhelm of the workaholic.



*His doctorate is actually in psychology and counseling.



<h2 id="h-3-the-blade-of-essentialism">3. The blade of essentialism</h2>



You’re moving freely between the boxes, and your playtime quality rivals the best of the 6-year-olds’. Does that guarantee effective doing time? Not exactly.



The necessary third tool is a machete to hack away at all but the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-strategies-to-manage-your-time-and-maximize-your-results/">most essential work tasks</a>.



Enter Greg McKeown, prophet of essentialism, and author of the book by the same name.



The essentialist sees the big picture; they know what actions will generate not just results, but the greatest return on the investment of time and energy. Then, they get out their knife.



“The Latin root of the word decision—cis or cid—literally means ‘to cut,’” says McKeown.



Cutting can be scary. We have obligations at work and home, we want to please people and we are offered a thousand exciting opportunities each year. But when we prioritize too much, we prioritize nothing.



To prevent spreading yourself thin, practice extreme criteria. It’s the essentialist mantra: “No more yes, it’s either a ‘hell, yeah!’ or no.”



<h2 id="h-scaling-back-in-action">Scaling back, in action</h2>



Rob Bell was a super pastor. For years, he ran a rapidly-growing church in California and in his waking moments burned white-hot.



Like all people who insist on running at 147% capacity, he crashed, curled up on his office floor. Bell now laughs at that image, but he used it to get out of the burn box, and to practice essentialism.



He didn’t really want to do seven sermons and weddings a day, so he cut those out of his life. Now he focuses on teaching spirituality. In one episode of his podcast, he tells his wife Kristen, “You meet people who say ‘We’re just so busy, you know how it is.’ And you and I will be like, ‘No. We don’t know how it is.’”



At the end of each Friday’s workday, Bell and Kristen close their laptops and spend 24 hours with no appointments, no to-do’s and no screen time.



Bell is a living example of the success that comes if you’d just leave the burn box, play a little and practice essentialism. “Think about how much more productive we are in a fraction of the time, and a fraction of the energy,” he says to his wife. “It would have taken you 10 hours to do that thing and now it takes 17 minutes. It’s that dramatic.”



Bell is now the host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-robcast/id956742638?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&amp;mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Robcast</a> podcast, has published 11 books, has multiple films of his tours, and travels the U.S. all year giving lectures and workshops. Not exactly a lazy guy.



More importantly, you can hear the joy in his voice wherever he goes. I want that. I know from experience that “push” will wear you out. I’m ready to try “work less to do more.”



Are you with me?



This article was published in March 2018 and has been updated. Photo by GaudiLab/Shutterstock

Peering through a small crack in the nearly impenetrable chain mail of my Google Calendar, I saw on the other side my subconscious, screaming that there must be a better way to live.

Peering through a small crack in the nearly impenetrable chain mail of my Google Calendar, I saw on the other side my subconscious, screaming that there must be a better way to live. | SUCCESS

How I Learned to Work Less But Do More

How I Learned to Work Less But Do More | SUCCESS

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8 Strategies to Overcome New Entrepreneur Anxiety

Professional Growth

Professional Growth Archives

Professional Growth | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Success

Success Archives

Success | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Close your eyes and imagine stepping onstage to deliver your first TED Talk. It’s one of the most important moments of your career… only you forgot your pants.



Feel that weight in your stomach? Good. That same wide-eyed, what have I done? nightmarish dread creeps over every entrepreneur soon after the euphoria of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/digital-nomad-what-you-need-to-know/">escaping the 9-to-5 world</a> wears off.



This panic arrives the moment we realize we’ve strayed too far from the paycheck mothership and feel compelled to run back to the salaried womb. Congratulations! The act of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-start-a-business-in-a-day/">starting a business</a> demands this initiation from every entrepreneur. It feels awful, but it’s perfectly survivable.



Breathe and know that there’s no need to retreat back to cubicle-land. No, you did not quit your job too soon.



Your anxiety isn’t entirely uncalled for. Day 1 of being your own boss is pure bliss, but as the months pass you’ll likely watch your bank balance dwindle and notice your zest fizzle to a cool reluctance. One day you realize that you don’t have the financial runway or the grit you thought you did. This is normal.



You’ll tumble down <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maslow’s hierarchy of needs</a>, hitting every rung on the way down, waking dazed on the security tier floor. In this Monopoly jail, you’ll have plenty of time to ruminate on where it all went wrong, but these eight practices will pull you through the panic and help you keep a steady hand on the wheel of your business.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/s.com_shutterstock_1603065664_Converted_EDIT-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61385" width="768" height="512"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-secure-a-consulting-gig">1. Secure a “consulting” gig.</h2>



There is an escape from the Money Panic, and it doesn’t involve selling off retirement investments or increasing your credit card limit. You need a consulting gig that will help cover monthly bills. This doesn’t have to mean putting on a tie and helping corporations “find efficiencies”—it could be a simple bartending job three nights a week or a few hours driving for Uber, maybe even <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-i-turned-down-a-full-time-job-for-freelancing/">helping your old company</a> by keeping some of your old duties on a contract basis.



When you find a consulting gig—consistent part-time hours with an hourly rate—you’ll have peace of mind knowing there’s enough money coming in to replenish your shrinking coffers. Having your security needs met is a vaccination against the Money Panic, and it allows you to focus on the real work of building your business.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-cut-expenses-to-the-bone">2. Cut expenses to the bone.</h2>



There is a quote that goes something like, “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”



Most new entrepreneurs focus on that last part when deciding to jettison the 9-to-5 job, but don’t spend much time pondering what, exactly “living like most people won’t” entails. “Sure, it’ll be tough, but I’m tougher!” they say.



But are you willing to let those few lean years turn into five or 10? The Universe often laughs at your expected timelines. To take a new company to profitability requires a herculean effort, day in and day out, for much longer than you might hope.



You can’t expect to live the lifestyle you had while under the protection of a payday every two weeks. Your part-time consulting job likely won’t cover all the bills, so you may need to cut the fat from your <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/want-financial-security-prepare-for-the-worst/">household budget</a>. That may mean canceling your Audible membership, exercising at home instead of the fancy gym or shopping at the budget supermarket instead of Whole Foods.



When Elon Musk was building the precursor to PayPal, he slept on his office couch instead of renting an apartment; now he’s a billionaire. If he can sacrifice, you can, too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-shelve-strategy-prioritize-cash-flow">3. Shelve strategy, prioritize cash flow.</h2>



As an entrepreneur, your superpower is vision; you see an <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/success-stories-pod/you-yes-you-can-change-the-world-4-steps-to-make-an-impact/">opportunity to change the world</a> that nobody else is acting on. But someone needs to go out and sell. The entrepreneur’s greatest strength is also a weakness. Big-picture thinking advances civilization, but it’s the daily yeoman’s work that turns vision into reality. The temptation to focus purely on business building will be great—perfecting the product, upgrading the website, tweaking marketing copy—but none of this pays the bills like sales.



When the 2008 financial crisis hit, Tel Ganesan, founder of IT and software company Kyyba Inc., wrote out “a simple index card with ‘$$$$’ written on it” that reminded him to prioritize cash flow. “To this day, that index card is kept in the same spot in my office, even through various office moves,” he says.



Cash flow is the lifeblood of every business. If it dries up, the body dies. By all means, create your business plan canvas before you leap from your 9-to-5. But now it’s time to get into the sales trenches, and prioritize money in the door, even if that’s not as sexy as adding another feature to your app.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-lower-your-expectations">4. Lower your expectations.</h2>



We revere successful entrepreneurs because they seem to have unlimited capabilities. When we set out on our own business journey, we’ve already bought into the myth that we can do it all. What we forget is that Richard Branson’s portfolio of planes, trains, spacecraft, electronics, charities, radio, and on and on started with a single record store. He didn’t try to do it all—not at first.



Are you trying to build the app and website, grow seven social media accounts, host webinars, talk to customers, sell, and secure venture capital all at the same time while also juggling a personal life? Cut it out.



If your cash flow projections show you making $1 million in the first year, or tripling sales this quarter, or hiring 100 new employees, your expectations may need to be rightsized. Ambition is laudable, but not when it crosses the border into Fantasyland.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/s.com_shutterstock_1507983743_Converted_REV-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61384"/></figure>



Stop doing “everything” OK-ish: Choose a vital few areas where you can deliver exceptional results. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-for-setting-realistic-goals/">Setting realistic expectations</a> is not equal to selling yourself short; it’s what adults do. And when your capacity grows, so can your ambition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-take-a-vacation">5. Take a vacation.</h2>



In the salaried world we get at least a couple weeks’ paid vacation and feel justified <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-work-less-and-live-more-3-tips-for-building-a-4-day-workweek/">disconnecting from work</a>. Why is it hard for entrepreneurs to unplug? Because your business doesn’t work unless you do in the early going. When you hang your own shingle, you may find yourself on call every waking hour. But running your body and mind at the redline leads to burnout. You are the company. If you collapse, so does the shingle.



It’s counterintuitive, but when you start thinking, I’m not cut out for this! and feel like tucking tail back to the old J.O.B., it’s time for a vacation. Resist the urge to work harder—your efforts will flop while you’re depleted.



When COVID hit, CEO of TeamBuilding Michael Alexis watched yearly revenue plummet from $2.8 million to zero overnight. Rather than work longer hours, he took his partner to climb a mountain. “Cold, sweaty and full of doubt, I remember thinking, Our business is failing,” he says. But by the time he got back down the mountain he knew how to pivot quickly, and within one year the company had thousands of clients under the new business model.



A vacation need not mean a flight to exotic destinations: Book a secluded Airbnb for a couple of nights or have a staycation. Just shelve the work and prioritize getting your head back on straight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-be-a-pro-not-an-amateur">6. Be a pro, not an amateur.</h2>



When you are employed, you are by nature a professional. You don’t really have the option not to clock in on Monday morning. But when you no longer have a boss to answer to, there will be great temptation to sleep in or take a two-hour lunch. This is the mentality of the amateur.



Author Steven Pressfield describes a force called Resistance that keeps you from doing what needs to be done, especially in creative pursuits. Amateurs succumb to Resistance often, calling up excuses like, “I don’t feel like working today, let’s hit the beach.” But professionals slay the dragon of Resistance each day, making client calls or sitting down to paint even when the spirit doesn’t move them, because that’s the job.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-harness-self-doubt">7. Harness self-doubt.</h2>



Any entrepreneur can tell you that the hardest part of the role is managing your own mental state. By leaving the 9-to-5 nest, we launch ourselves into the unknown and multiply our challenges. “Expanding your sphere of comfort and abilities comes with a cost: repeated self-doubt,” says author Tim Ferriss.



Self-doubt is an unavoidable side-effect of striving to be ever-more awesome, but we can choose to let it cripple us or harness it. You can change the story that you’re telling yourself about what these fears mean: Have you made a huge mistake? Or is this doubt an expected emotional reaction?



Your worst-case scenario fears may seem real, but feelings are not facts; they are passing clouds that you can simply observe as they float past on their own. Once you realize this, you start to harness self-doubt. It can act as a check on your flawed assumptions, a motivator to work harder or a prod to reach out to mentors and allies for advice.



To practice, use psychological distancing, which Alicia Nortje, Ph.D., describes as a “technique where we step away from a situation or position so that we can gain perspective.” This might mean leaving your work environment (that Airbnb getaway is looking better and better), or even speaking about yourself in the third person.



When you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-simples-strategies-for-conquering-self-doubt/">accept self-doubt</a> as a part of the path, it ceases to weaken you and starts to propel you forward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8-rebuild-your-relationships">8. Rebuild your relationships.</h2>



You may not be blood brothers with your former co-workers, but daily social interaction with other adults is a valuable benefit provided by the workplace. Humans evolved to need the tribe to thrive, and when you leave the traditional work world, you are cut off from this social network.



“Entrepreneurship of any kind can be extremely lonely at times—as well as terrifying and overwhelming,” says Black Ink Coffee owner Parker Russell, and this proved doubly true in COVID times. But when you find a network of like-minded people, “You can share your struggles, pick up gems of advice and, ultimately, grow,” Russell says.



No entrepreneur can build a business alone, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-success-hinges-on-collaboration-not-competition/">collaboration is the quickest route to growth</a>. Mentorship can help you avoid years of unnecessary struggle, and time with family and friends boosts our morale. As a solopreneur, it’s easy to slide into working like a hermit, but you must resist the urge to disconnect from the world. Each day, choose one friend, family member or mentor (clients don’t count), and pick up the phone. This will eliminate the malaise that sets in when you dig yourself into your entrepreneurial foxhole.



When you practice these eight tactics consistently, you’ll still feel periodic bouts of panic—as an entrepreneur, this never goes away completely—but you’ll know that no matter what challenges arise, you have a playbook for dealing with them. 



This article originally appeared in the September/October 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Main photo by Photo by Nadia Snopek / Shutterstock.com

No. 4: Lower your expectations. | SUCCESS

You Will Survive: 8 Strategies to Overcome New Entrepreneur Anxiety

Overcoming Entrepreneur Anxiety: 8 Survival Strategies

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Logistics, laptop and man in office for ecommerce

What You’ll Learn: Find out how to start an e-commerce business from the ground up. Get step-by-step details and expert insights. 



Looking for a new venture, wanting to start your own business or interested in growing your current brand? Starting an e-commerce business could be the answer. Today, it’s more accessible than ever. It allows entrepreneurs to launch and grow entirely online without a physical storefront. To be successful, however, it’s important to define a clear niche and develop strong branding. You’ll also need to ensure you have quality products and smart pricing to gain customers. Automation, SEO and marketing can also help you streamline and grow your e-commerce business.&nbsp;&nbsp;



You need specific traits to launch a successful business. These include resilience, adaptability, passion, creativity and confidence. You also need a marketable idea, a detailed business plan and funding to get started. One thing that isn’t necessary in the modern age, though, is a brick-and-mortar store.



Instead, you can set up shop completely online by starting an e-commerce business. This business model is more popular than ever. It’s a type of company where all of the transactions happen online. You might be interested in starting an e-commerce business from scratch. Or, this could be a fruitful side hustle for a full-scale online brand.&nbsp;



Many digital tools are available to bring your e-commerce business ideas to life. But accessibility doesn’t mean instant success. The e-commerce industry is growing fast, and to stand out, you need a thoughtful approach paired with consistent hard work.



This guide walks you through building an e-commerce website. We'll also offer insights from successful entrepreneurs and share <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-steps-for-crushing-it-in-e-commerce/">tips for e-commerce success</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-an-e-commerce-business">What Is an E-Commerce Business?</h2>



An e-commerce business is any model that allows you to sell goods or services online. You can sell as an individual or as a company. As an individual, you might want to monetize your favorite hobby of creating gorgeous handmade jewelry. Or you could launch a digital course or offer a subscription service. No matter what you’re offering, setting up an e-store is at the heart of building an e-commerce website.



Let’s start by going over some common e-commerce models:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dropshipping: You sell the product, but a third party handles inventory and fulfillment.</li>



<li>Private label: Sell products produced by a third-party, but that are sold under your brand name. This includes control over product, packaging, and other details. </li>



<li>Print-on-demand: deal for creatives, this model focuses on customized goods. They are printed and shipped only after purchase.</li>
</ul>



As an aspiring business owner, understanding<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-the-best-e-commerce-platform/"> how the e-commerce industry works</a> is vital to your future success. Each model comes with different operational requirements, cost structures and customer experiences.







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-commerce-business-ideas-to-get-you-started">E-Commerce Business Ideas to Get You Started</h2>



When you’re brainstorming e-commerce business ideas, start with what you know. Are there underserved communities that you’re passionate about or specialized hobbies you’ve been dabbling in? Maybe there’s a specific issue in your industry that you can solve with a better product or experience.&nbsp;



As you’re thinking about how to start an e-commerce business, consider different ideas and areas of interest. E-commerce business examples in promising niches include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sustainable home goods</li>



<li>DIY hobby kits</li>



<li>Holistic health supplements</li>



<li>Pet products with a mission</li>



<li>Digital downloads like planners or templates</li>
</ul>



Don’t make your final decision based on trends. See what ideas <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-steps-to-better-business-ideas/">spark your inspiration</a>. Then evaluate product-market fit and consider how scalable the business could be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starting-an-e-commerce-business-from-scratch-first-steps">Starting an E-Commerce Business From Scratch: First Steps</h2>



Before setting up an e-store, the most successful entrepreneurs get clear about their goals. It's also key to approach the beginning stages with intention.



Here’s a quick step-by-step to follow when starting an e-commerce business from scratch:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Choose a niche: Go narrow before going broad. An underserved group will be more loyal if you meet their specific needs.</li>



<li>Conduct market research: Study competitors, pricing and gaps in the market.</li>



<li>Identify your target audience: Define who they are, what they value and where they spend time online.</li>



<li>Plan your product offering: Will you offer a single item, bundles or a wide selection?</li>



<li>Select a business model: Decide between dropshipping, private label, print-on-demand or manufacturing.</li>



<li>Order fulfillment: Understand the pros and cons of in-house shipping, third-party logistics and on-demand models. </li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consider-your-e-commerce-platform">Consider Your E-Commerce Platform</h3>



This is also the time to consider your e-commerce platform. You want to build an e-commerce website that reflects your brand and is easy for customers to navigate. There are different <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-elements-of-a-great-e-commerce-website/">elements</a> and different platforms. 



Basic options include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Choosing an all-in-one builder, such as Wix or Shopify</li>



<li>Using a website builder that supports e-commerce, such as Squarespace</li>



<li>Starting an e-commerce site on a platform, such as WordPress and using CMS plug-ins </li>
</ul>



Each of these options might depend on your time, technical knowledge and preferences.&nbsp;



No matter which you choose, you ultimately need to purchase and register your domain name, design your store and optimize product pages.&nbsp;



You’ll also need to consider how you’ll handle payments, decide on shipping options and make those clear on the website. All of these aspects may differ depending on the types of products you are selling, your specific platform and the e-commerce model you choose.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-start-a-successful-e-commerce-business">How to Start a Successful E-Commerce Business</h2>



Building a thriving business requires more than a good idea. It calls for execution, adaptability and relentless focus. If you stick with these essential strategies, you’ll maximize your chances for success.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-build-a-memorable-brand-identity">Build a Memorable Brand Identity</h3>



Your visuals, tone and messaging should consistently reflect your mission. From packaging to product photos, aim for cohesion and emotional resonance.



When developing her brand identity, Kristina Barron, founder of <a href="https://kristinabarron.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kristina Barron Photography</a>, focused on creating a strong visual presence on social media, which fuels the online traffic to her website. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-on-product-quality-and-customer-experience">Focus on Product Quality and Customer Experience</h3>



Your customers should come to your e-store the first time for your quality product. Plus, they should return for the exceptional experience.&nbsp;



Simon Elliott, founder and operations director of <a href="https://www.cliftonclothing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CLIFTON</a>, a global custom clothing label, says, “Our success comes from giving customers creative control over their clothing, while ensuring high-quality, well-crafted products that reflect their personal style.” Elliott’s model also offers customers a totally customized experience. This combination drives repeat business. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choose-the-right-pricing-strategy">Choose the Right Pricing Strategy</h3>



Price communicates value. Make sure you understand your cost of goods, competitors’ pricing and what your target customer is willing to pay. You need to consider what you’re offering. For example, is this a one-time payment in exchange for a high-quality product, or are you utilizing an ongoing subscription-based model?&nbsp;



Don’t be afraid to change things up or expand. “Our business started as a subscription box…” says Bryan Gerber, co-founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.hemper.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hemper</a>. “Building out our production capabilities sparked the opportunity to expand the business…. We added several new product types to our repertoire… and even began private-labeling for other businesses.”



He adds, “The subscription box had gotten really popular, and we used that as a springboard for the business to really take off as we diversified our offerings.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-embrace-automation">Embrace Automation</h3>



Many successful e-commerce businesses fully embrace automation. Barron focused on automation between her website and fulfillment providers early in her journey, and Consider automating everything you possibly can. Effective automated solutions will maximize your productivity and your profit while creating a seamless customer experience.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invest-in-marketing-and-seo-early">Invest in Marketing and SEO Early</h3>



Barron also <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/seo-for-companies/">invested in SEO</a> (search engine optimization) early on. Staying consistent in your efforts is her best advice to industry newcomers.&nbsp;



SEO helps you develop your e-commerce site with searchability in mind. To facilitate this process, use tools to research the most relevant keywords to your target audience. Start building your e-commerce site around those keywords to attract organic traffic to your site.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-and-growing-your-e-commerce-store">Managing and Growing Your E-Commerce Store</h2>



Once your store is officially live, your focus shifts from launch mode to maintaining momentum. Here are some decisions that are likely to come up as you grow your store:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Inventory management: Avoid overstocking by tracking sales trends and restocking based on actual data.</li>



<li>Customer retention: Use email marketing and loyalty programs and prioritize fast customer service to keep people coming back.</li>



<li>Analytics: Track which products perform well and which promotions drive sales. Let data guide your decision-making.</li>
</ul>



“I treated my art like a business,” says Barron, “setting up a CRM, tracking customer data and learning from every launch.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thriving-in-the-e-commerce-industry">Thriving in the E-Commerce Industry</h2>



As a newcomer, you might be asking yourself, ‘How does the e-commerce industry work?’ This is a space that moves quickly. It’s important to stay relevant and customer-facing. Keep these tips in mind:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stay close to your customers; be in the online spaces where they are, such as social media and forums. </li>



<li>Use feedback to refine your product; listen to your customers. Their satisfaction will drive your success.</li>



<li>Don’t get pulled in every direction by trends. Stay focused on what works for your product and your target audience. </li>



<li>Double down on what works. When you have a successful launch, for example, examine every aspect, replicate what worked and ditch what didn’t.</li>
</ul>



When something unexpected happens, embrace it. “Your initial vision may open doors that you hadn’t seen before,” explained Gerber, “and those new doors might just be the most important ones to walk through.”



Following these tips can help your business thrive, no matter the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-tips-for-selling-during-a-tough-economy/">economic climate</a> or other outside factors.



Photo by PeopleImages/Shutterstock

Jennifer Johnson

Learn how to start an e-commerce business from scratch. Discover how to find profitable ideas, choose the right model and build a website.

Learn how to start an e-commerce business from scratch. Discover how to find profitable ideas, choose the right model and build a website. | SUCCESS

How to Launch a Successful E-Commerce Business

How to Start an E-Commerce Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Start an E-Commerce Business | SUCCESS

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The Art of Problem-Solving: 4 Creative Strategies to Tackle Your Biggest Obstacles

It’s tempting to throw up your hands, but when you cultivate a growth mindset you can learn to love your problems. If knowledge is power, then these 4 creative problem-solving strategies will help you unlock your hidden strength.

It’s tempting to throw up your hands, but when you cultivate a growth mindset you can learn to love your problems. If knowledge is power, then these 4 creative problem-solving strategies will help you unlock your hidden strength. | SUCCESS

The Art of Problem-Solving: 4 Creative Strategies for Obstacles

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Coaches have the honor of getting to know their clients at the deepest levels. They ask you questions your friends and family never would. They keep asking until they hit the bedrock of your soul.

Coaches have the honor of getting to know their clients at the deepest levels. They ask you questions your friends and family never would. They keep asking until they hit the bedrock of your soul. | SUCCESS

How to Become a Certified Coach

How to Become a Certified Coach | SUCCESS

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How I Learned to Love Selling (and 6 Strategies You Can Employ)

“It feels… gross,” I told Trevor, when he asked why I hadn’t made any sales calls last week.



My business coach wasn’t about to let that comment slide.



I explained to him that I hired a consultant six years ago who still calls me every couple months “just to check in” (and squeeze a referral from me).



“To me, that’s sales,” I said. “It’s annoying.”



I was paying Trevor to stamp out limiting beliefs like this one. A fog lifted when he told me, “If I don’t get you to buy my service, I’ve done you a disservice.”



With this new idea, I learned to stop worrying and love sales. You can too—here’s how.



<h2 id="h-sell-like-a-human">Sell like a human.</h2>



Do you feel bad asking for the sale? It’s a chronic disease in new entrepreneurs. We’re bombarded by ads on TV and in bathroom stalls, so when we’re asked to hock our own wares, our subconscious tells us we’re pestering.



But sales need not resemble a 1980s infomercial—“Act now and we’ll send you a second Ginsu Knife for 9.99!” Slap Chop that approach to the curb, my friend.



The human approach to sales is this: Trust = credibility + reliability + integrity, all over self-interest.



How do you build trust? First, make sure your product is outstanding. If it’s not, improve it or sell something else. With a great product, all you need to do is tell the truth about it.



If you as an entrepreneur have a sour taste in your mouth about sales, your employees and customers won’t trust you. Doubt starts to reek like old fish after a few days. And the limit of any company is the mindset of the leader. Change your attitude about sales or you’ll struggle.



<h2 id="h-you-already-love-sales-sometimes">You already love sales, sometimes.</h2>



Maybe you missed the memo, but you’re a fantastic salesperson in the right circumstances. Did you convince your partner to date you? You sold yourself.



Got hired after a job interview? That was a sale.



Bank gave you a mortgage? Sale.



Perhaps you published a blog post that a thousand people read, or 10 people came to your free yoga class. That’s all sales. Sales is simply the act of saying to people, “Here, I made this, and I think you’ll love it.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-6-ways-to-start-loving-sales">6 Ways to Start Loving Sales</h2>



The most successful sellers know what Trevor hammered into my brain: sales are effortless, if done right. Here are six truths to remember when you knock on doors.



<h3 id="h-1-sales-service">1. Sales = service</h3>



<a href="https://amzn.to/3yAVzAg">Millionaire Success Habits</a> author Dean Graziosi knows his products improve lives, so his sales pitch feels like a natural conversation. He truly wants to serve, and that’s why he enjoys wild financial success.



I tried selling credit card machines door to door once. I didn’t care about the product, so I sold precisely zero units. Now I coach startup entrepreneurs and get to see my students make their first sales, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-cultivate-a-growth-mindset/">grow</a>, and start mentoring other entrepreneurs. This is incredibly rewarding, and I feel that I’m truly serving the world in important ways.



My other business helps aspiring writers improve their craft and get published. And seeing their names in print after they take one of our workshops? That’s the meaning that will get you out of bed in the morning, even when your day seems like one long list of unsexy tasks.



Ask how you can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/serve-others-to-get-all-you-want/">truly serve</a> your client, and sales will follow.



<h3 id="h-2-find-your-people">2. Find your people</h3>



If you are a new entrepreneur and don’t know this already, here is the fundamental law of success in 2021: find a niche. If you try to serve everyone you’ll get killed by larger competitors offering a generic product for a price you can’t beat.



Stop knocking off product ideas and stop trying to adjust your prices on Amazon by cents to weasel a few more bucks out of customers who will never even know your company’s name.



How do you find your tribe? Be a great listener. In <a href="https://amzn.to/2Vq4AOy">This is Marketing</a>, author Seth Godin suggests that you find a lock, then fashion the key. Find the client in need, then create the solution. Don’t create a product then look for the customer or you are in danger of ending up with a spare bedroom full of beautiful, but ultimately unsellable dog nose hair trimmers.



Once you’ve identified your ideal customer, actively ignore everyone else. I can’t tell you how much of my time used to be spent on customers who purchased a $5 or $10 service and immediately became a squeaky wheel. Those emails no longer get a reply and those customers have disappeared to be replaced with ones I can truly help. It’s ruthless, but effective.



Join conversations in progress and speak the client’s language. Your customers are telling you about their pain points on Facebook and Twitter. Sell them a solution.



<h3 id="h-3-talk-to-fewer-customers-but-for-longer">3. Talk to fewer customers… but for longer.</h3>



Back in the days when I bought into the hyperbole of The Hustle™, I went to a lot of networking meetups. I vividly remember one group description reading (I kid you not), “If it looks like you’re spending too much time talking to one person, you’ll be given the signal to move on.” What?



Sadly, this is the conventional wisdom on networking: talk about yourself with as many people as you can for just long enough to hand out your business card in the hopes that some of these seeds will sprout, even without watering. Astute single folks will notice that this sentiment reads much like a description of dating since the proliferation of apps like Tinder and Bumble.



We go wide, not deep. This is a mistake. I urge you to abandon networking in favor of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/my-key-to-success-forming-deep-connections/">relationship building</a>, especially in your business. Dr. Tony Alessandra—entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the sales classic, <a href="https://amzn.to/3k1Blf9">Non-Manipulative Selling</a>—suggests that you create “apostles.”



Call them apostles or VIP clients, raving fans or cheerleaders, these customers spread the good word about your business. Customers for life, they refer their friends to you, and frequently. You create them by nurturing powerful one-on-one relationships that Instagram ads and SEO can’t buy.



In my own business, some clients do find us through Google search, but a full 75% are those I’ve spoken with one-on-one. Humans crave these deeper connections, especially in COVID times.



Talk to fewer of your better customers more often and for longer, and you’ll enjoy a new lineup of referral traffic at your door. Obviously, this approach doesn’t scale if you’re a one-person operation, but you can always hire a sales team that shares this philosophy.



<h3 id="h-4-sell-benefits-not-features">4. Sell benefits, not features.</h3>



Habits researchers know that emotion drives all behavior. People give complex lists of rational-sounding reasons they married their partner or drove their fist through the wall, but studies prove we make emotional decisions microseconds (an eternity, in neuroscience) before our logical brain joins the party.



To illustrate, imagine a time when you purchased a product and had buyers’ remorse. You got home with your $300 set of spatulas only to realize you were sold on the feeling of becoming a culinary wizard by your favorite celebrity chef, and that your dollar-store utensils were just fine, thank you very much.



Business people can ethically leverage this psychological truism. Sales master and self-help guru Brian Tracy suggests: sell benefits (emotion) not features (logic).



Features tell you that this computer has 64 GB of RAM and a 3 GHz processor. Benefits say you’ll be able to kill your friends more efficiently, in higher resolution, during your Saturday night Call of Duty session. As long as your product delivers actual value (you know—the whole foundation of capitalism?) then why not sell in a way that will actually… sell?



When selling, don’t aim for the wallet; aim for the heart.



<h3 id="h-5-count-your-money">5. Count your money.</h3>



Opening your PayPal account to see dollars there that weren’t there the night before is highly motivating.



Look—money is a terrible master. There are hordes of unhappy millionaires out there crying into wads of hundred-dollar bills. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/you-can-choose-happiness/">Happiness</a> means doing work that is meaningful to you, impacts others, and helps you grow as a person.



But <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-complete-guide-to-money-how-to-create-wealth/">money</a> makes an excellent servant. It lets you enjoy wild adventures and unlock your full potential as a human. Jen Sincero, in her book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3yLfXiv">You Are a Badass at Making Money</a>, suggests you make a list of all the beautiful gifts that money has and will give you. Why not do this now?



It’s allowed me to travel to 50 countries; buy a reliable car that lets me get out of town to see friends and family; buy this laptop that I use 10 hours a day; not to mention cover my family’s basic needs, like food and shelter.



What has money done for the world? Some bad, mostly good. It’s produced beautiful music, soaring skyscrapers, rockets to the Moon and eventually Mars, education, health care systems and vaccinations, charity ventures and sports leagues.



Remind yourself daily that sales create money, and that money can generate incredible blessings; then, you’ll get over your selling hang-ups.



<h3 id="h-6-have-fun-with-it">6. Have fun with it.</h3>



Sales puts us in conversation with throngs of interesting humans, to talk about a product that we (hopefully) love and believe in, to win their trust, then to exchange your value for their cash. Fun!



Unfortunately, we’re hard-wired to want to belong, and so hearing “no” will naturally seem like a minor threat to our survival. This need is what kept us safe and secure in the tribe back in our stone age days.&nbsp;



Your fear is not unique: according to one study, even <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/37281236/Sales-Signals-2010-Part2-Summary">73% of professional salespeople</a> do not feel confident with sales. But we can also circumvent our evolution with this handy tool called our rational mind. In other words, you can choose <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-practical-tips-to-achieve-a-positive-mindset/">positive beliefs</a> about sales and what “no” means.



For author and entrepreneur Bo Bennett, “an objection is not a rejection; it is simply a request for more information.” Isn’t this a better way to interpret a no?



Champion of the Hustle, Gary Vaynerchuk, suggests that you ask for the sale “with no expectations.” That way you’ll never be let down. Care, just not that much. Our fear of sales is usually <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/kathy-ireland-on-rejection/">fear of rejection</a>, but if you take the non-attachment approach to the outcome, a “no” can’t possibly hurt you.



Stop taking no personally, because it’s not. Once you do, you’ll be free to enjoy the process, rejection and all.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-change-your-own-mind">Change your own mind.</h2>



My friend was not at a healthy weight, and so his wife needled him into a gym membership. When I asked how it was going, he said, “Mike, I’ve accepted that I just don’t like exercise, so I quit.”



At the time, I’d just discovered CrossFit (I’m obliged to tell you this, as the jibe goes), and I was having the time of my life lifting weights and scaling walls. How could anyone not enjoy moving their body and watching it get stronger; of seeing what this beautiful machine is capable of?&nbsp;



Then I realized my friend didn’t hate exercise, but he hated running on a treadmill.



Earlier that month, a coaching client told me, “I detest sales,” but when I asked about her approach to sales? Primarily cold-calling. No need for Sherlock to solve that mystery.



Both my unhealthy friend and my cold-calling client simply hadn’t found their thing yet. If the treadmill doesn’t work, play squash, do yoga, go rock climbing. If cold calling isn’t your jam (it’s nobody’s!) then promote yourself with free talks, appear on podcasts, or try email marketing.



Our resistance to sales comes only from our beliefs about it. Change your mindset now—sales can be fun if you apply the six tips above. Great entrepreneurship means creating value. And your customers can receive it only when you learn to love sales. 



Photo by @Chawki/Twenty20

We’re bombarded by ads on TV and in bathroom stalls, so when we’re asked to hock our own wares, our subconscious tells us we’re pestering.

We’re bombarded by ads on TV and in bathroom stalls, so when we’re asked to hock our own wares, our subconscious tells us we’re pestering. | SUCCESS

How I Learned to Love Selling (and How You Can Too)

How I Learned to Love Selling (and How You Can Too) | SUCCESS

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The Solopreneur’s Guide to Email Marketing

In 2015 I devoured Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek and fell so deeply in love with the idea of passive income that I created an online store for men’s

In 2015 I devoured Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek and fell so deeply in love with the idea of passive income that I created an online store for men’s | SUCCESS

The Solopreneur’s Guide to Email Marketing | SUCCESS

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We made it through 2020! Grab some bubbly, one of those leftover turkey legs, and pat yourself on the back. 2021 will be better… Right?



Well, that depends entirely on you. The New Year’s resolutions train is leaving the station, but if I were a gambling man, I’d wager that most will go off the tracks. No, I’m not a cynic, but studies show that the deck is stacked against us. Most resolutions fail by January 17th.



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We set vague, insurmountable resolutions anyway, trying to bluff our way to success. Then, we spend the year chasing 999 other shiny baubles that distract us from the jackpot. 



Effective goal setting calls for a specific recipe that isn’t taught in school. I wrote an <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/beyond-resolutions-the-complete-guide-to-achieving-your-new-year-goals/">insanely comprehensive guide</a> to setting and achieving yearly goals, but if you struggle with resolutions, you will need a simpler road map for the coming year.



So, how do you choose just ONE goal for the year, and actually achieve it? Get your apron on, ‘cause I’m about to drop the recipe on you.



<h2>Start With Why</h2>



Think back to when you were 7, and how desperately you wanted that new Gameboy or Rainbow Brite. Were you on your best behavior for the year to make it onto Santa’s nice list? You bet. You even took the time to scribble out a shameless essay to the old man, extolling your virtues.



The anticipation of that shiny bauble took up 90% of the space in your mind. Your “why” was all consuming. Today, your wants may have enlarged, but the same principle is at work whether you’re 7 or 77: When you can’t stop thinking about it, you won’t stop working for it.&nbsp;



It’s a principle that has been worming its way deeper into my own brain for several years, because I hear this same message repeatedly from successful leaders.&nbsp;



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/tony-robbins-8-point-guide-to-reversing-your-fortunes-in-2021/">Tony Robbins</a> teaches that, with a powerful why, the “hows” take care of themselves.&nbsp;</li><li>Mark Manson’s life advice is to ask, “Why am I suffering—for what purpose?”</li><li>Elon Musk says, “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”</li></ul>



George Bernard Shaw, Viktor Frankl, Nietzsche… John F. Kennedy, Churchill, Lincoln… Buddha, Rumi, Lao Tzu… Steve Jobs, Howard Schultz, Helen Keller, Ayn Rand, Stephen Hawking, Dostoyevsky, Dolly Parton, Ricky Gervais… They all argue that purpose is primary. And when the philosophers, politicians, prophets, titans of industry, writers, scientists, musicians and even comedians agree on something, you can’t help but pay attention.



Enough name dropping—what’s actually going on behind this principle? Simon Sinek gives the best explanation I’ve heard for this phenomenon in his book Start with Why (you can also watch his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0HIF3SfI4&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TED talk</a> on the subject). In short, the rational/logical part of our brain is powerful, but it developed millions of years after our emotional/feeling part (the limbic system), which still runs most of our programming, including our why/purpose/desires/choices.



Program a powerful why into your brain, and you’ll never lack for creative ways to hack your way through any obstacle.



<h2>Get Emotional</h2>



You’ve discovered your purpose… Great! Is that enough to carry you to your goal? Not by itself. Author Steven Pressfield has a test for you. Ask, “How bad do you want it?” If the answer is anything less than with the desire of a thousand burning suns, then you have some soul searching to do.



When I first heard this advice, the air went out of me like a cheap bike tire. Sure, I wanted to be a writer, to build a business, to be a coach… but was I willing to give up my paycheck, to buy NO clothes for a year, to face the cruel and unusual punishment that’s tied to chasing anything worth doing? Back in 2011 I recall thinking, I’m not sure, as I walked to my weekly overpriced brunch place.



Thankfully, there’s a formula for creating the kind of emotional juice required to get to level 10 motivation. I found mine through the trial and error of starting and folding businesses, triumphantly quitting one <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-create-job-security-for-life/">day job</a> after another, only to run back when the money ran out. But you don’t have to. The shortcut? Create a compelling vision.&nbsp;



Nope, vision isn’t a one-time exercise you pay a corporate consultant for, just to impress your shareholders. Creating a vision simply means sitting your behind in a chair, closing your eyes, and literally seeing in your mind’s eye the goal that you’re chasing. I can picture in detail the family house my wife and I plan to buy: four bedrooms, a wall of windows overlooking the river, surrounded by forest, and an office bookshelf worthy of a book nut (that’s me).&nbsp;



How clearly you see your compelling future is correlated to your motivation level. Clarity will put you in a great mental and emotional state, and this is the only place from which to do great work. Feeling good? Now, it’s time to choose your one goal for the year.



<h2>Set ONE Goal</h2>



You’ve fixed your sights on your why, and you’ve steeped it in emotional juice by crafting a powerful vision. Good work. Unfortunately, we can’t just sit around in a blissful state, picturing our new life—not if we want to turn it into reality. It’s time to focus on action.



But action without a plan is like horse without a harness. It’s powerful, but you can’t ride it far without getting trampled. Unfocused action will deliver mixed results. Let’s slap a saddle on our power by setting one goal for the year. Wait—just ONE goal? Yes. If you’re already crushing multiple projects, then check out a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/beyond-resolutions-the-complete-guide-to-achieving-your-new-year-goals">more advanced system</a>.



However, for most people—those new to goal setting or who struggle with New Year’s resolutions (you know who you are!)—a hyperfocus on one goal is the best way to ensure your triumphant victory. Complexity is the death of many a well-meaning New Year’s resolution.



And when you cross that one goal off your list sometime this year? Your confidence will spike, and then you can go after bigger fish. For now, don’t try to have it all. Don’t chase the white whale. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/work-less-do-more/">Do less</a>, but better.&nbsp;



“But how can I choose just one goal?” you ask. It’s easier than you think.&nbsp;



<ul><li>First, recall how many priorities you were chasing this past year. Include <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-should-be-striving-for-big-goals/">goals</a> related to your finances, career, relationship, friendships, family, home, health, travel, and on and on. And don’t just choose your lofty, stated goals; be honest with yourself about where you actually spent your time. In front of the TV? At the bar? Lost in your phone? These were priorities, intentional or not. Write this out in a list, and rank your success in each area, 1 to 10. When you see this birds-eye view of your year, you’ll realize how spread thin you were. </li><li>Next, give each priority a label: urgent, important or not important. It goes without saying that the quality of your life is tightly linked to the amount of time you spend working on the important things. Don’t major in minor things. If you want to stop fighting so many fires, take your attention upstream, and prioritize Great Work. Do this, and you’ll minimize crises downstream. </li><li>Finally, ask: Which ONE goal, if you achieved it this year, would have the greatest positive impact on your life? Is it finally finishing your novel? Quitting your day job? Beating the original Super Mario Bros? If you’re having trouble choosing just one, write out all your goals and compare one to the next, one pair at a time, rock-paper-scissors style, until you have a winner. “But my future is too important to leave to some trivial game!” Actually, your future is too important to get stuck on this step. Don’t overthink it; your heart has the answer.</li></ul>



For better or worse, do you have your one goal for the year? Excellent. We’re just getting started.



<h2>Eat Your <s>Vegetables</s> Metrics</h2>



Call me weird, but I have always loved eating vegetables. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">Growing up</a>, a side of steamed broccoli with nothing on it was not an unusual dinner. This healthy habit never felt like another dose of “adulting” to get through. Just don’t ask me to iron a shirt or cut the lawn. Guhh.



I also have a weird affinity for the “riveting” world of metrics. I can get lost for hours in Google Analytics, seeing in the data vivid pictures of visitors moving through my <a href="http://mikepietrzak.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">websites</a>, like that guy in The Matrix could see a 3D world in nothing more than bright green code.



Hold up—what’s a metric?! It’s simply a standard of measurement. Think of them as “measuring sticks.” Is your goal to lose 30 pounds this year? Your metrics might be the number of steps you walk in a day, the number of minutes you spent at the gym or the calories you take in. They’re not the goal itself, but they are handy in the same way that a speedometer is. Get it? Good. And analytics? That’s simply the process of analyzing this data.



To state the obvious, a goal is not enough to ensure your success. You need a good system, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-habits-to-avoid-after-lockdown/">habits</a> of course, but you also need to choose the right metric(s) so that you can see, at any given point in time, whether you’re moving toward your goal, or not, then adjust course.



Good metrics show you two things: first, what you get. Is the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-complete-guide-to-money-how-to-create-wealth/">money</a> coming in? Are you lifting more weight at the gym? If yes, then your goal is undoubtedly approaching. The second way to measure progress toward your goal is by observing who you’re becoming. Are you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-happy-are-you/">happier</a>? More motivated? In the flow state more often? Only metrics can answer these questions.



We restrained ourselves to ONE goal because simplicity is the best way to ensure our success. Now, choose only ONE metric you’ll use to measure the distance to your ONE goal. Are you building a business? Your one metric might be profit. Preparing for a marathon? Pairs of running shoes worn out during practice might be your yardstick. Set your metric now, and let’s move onto the last step in our recipe.



<h2>Take That First Step</h2>



All great enterprises start with one innocuous step: your first day of school, the first brick in the house, a seed planted. You literally cannot achieve anything worthwhile without tackling the smallest piece of the project, one that seems so damnably simplistic that it’s not worth mentioning. “OF COURSE I have to write the first line of code,” Zuckerberg said.



It’s easy to forget this because we compare ourselves to celebrity achievers who are already enjoying their accolades in the Halls of Greatness. They tend not to broadcast, expect in brief, broad summations, their trials by fire &amp; Ramen noodles. And the media loves to omit that these “overnight successes” were for a decade non-successes.



Take a minute to internalize this, because it will determine whether you win through to your goal or not: It’s the small steps that add up to the great results; there is no one big step that does it all.



But the journey often seems impossible, doesn’t it?! That’s the voice of a little enemy called overwhelm. Overwhelm raises its shrill, whiny voice only when we try to see the project as a whole. I’m willing to bet that if <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/visionary-lessons-from-elon-musk/">Elon Musk</a>, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/forget-2020-mark-cubans-secrets-to-focusing-on-the-future/">Mark Cuban</a> or Sara Blakely consulted a crystal ball when starting their companies, and could see the mountain of grief that they would need to scale, they each might have said, “Forget it.”



Stop trying to hold the multitude of steps in your head at one time. To begin your journey of 1,000 miles, start with the first step. To know what that first step should be, work backwards.&nbsp;



Is your one goal for this year to become your own boss? Ask, what steps come immediately before that? You’ll need some way to cover at least your basic expenses. For that, you’ll need your own business (even if that’s consulting). And the steps involved in creating your own business? Selecting a product or service, a business plan, a loan, hiring out your weaknesses.



There will be hundreds of steps; don’t try to enumerate them all, at first, just capture the big beats—the milestones. Work those backwards until you come to this moment. Your first step should be so easy that it seems juvenile. Do you have it? Do it now, even before you finish this article.&nbsp;



When it’s done, the snowball will be rolling, and you can choose a second, more challenging step. Goodbye, overwhelm.



<h2>Reap the Rewards</h2>



Creating an incredible life hinges on knowing the difference between life’s trinkets and treasures, as Jim Rohn says. It requires a conscious decision about which treasures to seek, and relentless, focused pursuit.



If you’ve ever <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-love-your-problems/">struggled</a> with New Year’s resolutions, then this system is for you. It’s an easy recipe for maximizing your chances of reaching the ONE most important goal for your 2021.



And if you want to chase your goal in the company of like-minded achievers, check out the <a href="https://www.successacademy.com/1step" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1-Step Ahead Challenge</a>, which starts in January 2021. Thousands of SUCCESS readers will sign up to walk the path beside you, so you’ll have plenty of support &amp; accountability along the way.&nbsp;



Whether you sign up for the Challenge or do this work on your own, know that the pursuit is worth it. More <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/12-efficiency-secrets-of-the-worlds-busiest-people/">productivity</a>, better relationships, and a happier life will be your rewards.&nbsp;



Let’s get to it. I wish you all the best for a happy and prosperous 2021.



 Photo by @NataliaSolo/Twenty20.com



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If you’ve ever struggled with New Year’s resolutions, then this system is for you.

If you’ve ever struggled with New Year’s resolutions, then this system is for you. | SUCCESS

Your One Goal for 2021

Your One Goal for 2021 | SUCCESS

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Mature Black woman setting her New Year goals

Looking to set New Year goals that’ll actually stick? Then check out our complete guide to how to set goals for the New Year—and achieve them.

Looking to set New Year goals that’ll actually stick? Then check out our complete guide to how to set goals for the New Year—and achieve them. | SUCCESS

Beyond Resolutions: The Complete Guide To Achieving Your 2024 New Year Goals

The Complete Guide To Achieving Your 2024 New Year Goals

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A lifetime ago I worked with a woman we’ll call Martha, who flew into a minor rage when she learned that a co-worker from another department was promoted over her.



Her reaction surprised me, not because we were in the middle of a full staff meeting, but because she was the opposite of a model employee—doing the bare minimum, arguing with the boss, and nipping at a bottle of rum in her desk drawer (only on special occasions, of course). <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.successacademy.com/successinsider/?utm_campaign=inside_cta&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=success.com" target="_blank"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.successacademy.com/successinsider/?utm_campaign=inside_cta&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=success.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SUCCESS-Insider-Signup-1-1.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-52406"/></a></figure>



 But Martha had seniority, and in her worldview, she was entitled to that promotion. Sadly, “I’m entitled to a salary,” is a popular belief that just doesn’t jibe with reality.



Of course, I’m not speaking to a Martha, I’m speaking to a sophisticated achiever who knows that your rewards are not tied to how many hours or years you sit in a cubicle.



The success metric is: Are you effective?



If you can answer, “Yes,” you’ll enjoy job security for life, in any economy, and I’ll wish you well as you sip cognac on your veranda overlooking your 50-acre private island in Fiji.



But if you can’t, here’s how you can make yourself more indestructible.



<h2>1. See yourself as a business.</h2>



“There is no real security except for whatever you build inside yourself.” —Gilda Radner



Whether you own a business or not, you are already an entrepreneur, so start seeing yourself as the CEO of your own personal services corporation.



Whether you are flipping burgers or leading a 100-person product development team for a tech giant, each day you go to work, you are selling a service to your client (your boss) who determines your level of compensation.



“See yourself as an independent contractor selling your services back into your company on an hourly rate,” says self-help giant Brian Tracy. “See your current employer as your best client, at the moment.”



A company that doesn’t make the client happy will be out of business fast. So how do you ensure that, as the leader of your company, you become a purveyor of happiness?



You do that by delivering massive value.



<h2>2. Know how to create value.</h2>



“The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself… that you are valuable to your company, your friends, and your family.” —Tony Robbins



Somewhere in high school, between the cafeteria and report cards, we’re handed this neatly packaged worldview that, if you just work hard enough, you can get all that you want in life.



But if that were true, high school dropouts working three minimum wage jobs would be as comfortable as CEOs, and all startups would IPO if the founders just work 90-hour weeks.



The reality is that you and I are rewarded for the value we create, whether that’s inventing a life-saving medication, or a more perfect fidget spinner.



When you understand how to create value, you’ll be indispensable no matter who signs your paycheck. This means understanding what people value (remember: it’s not always what you value), so start by asking a lot of questions.



If your audience is your ideal client, put out a survey, or conduct user interviews. If it’s your boss, ask what is her No. 1 goal?



In either case, you won’t always get a straight answer—people are notoriously bad at articulating their true desires—so continue to observe like a scientist in the field.



Here’s a hint: Above all, every human wants to feel a certain emotion—love, respect, security—so maybe your client wants to write a book not for the money, but to feel heard? Maybe your boss’s primary motivation is to coast into retirement, and not to change the world?



<h2>3. Be a leader in all that you do.</h2>



"Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.” – Victor Hugo



Too many employees wait for instructions. We all know that person who performed all their duties to the letter, but was laid off anyway. Nine times out of 10 this is because no boss wants to constantly micromanage their staff; they want people who will get busy without a prod.



Initiative is the domain of the leader. You may be saying to yourself, “But I’m not a leader, nobody has given me that responsibility!” Leadership isn’t a title, silly. It’s a mindset and a choice—to step up, even if that stairway leads outside your job description.



Maybe you work in a mailroom and see a way to improve a process, or in a cubicle and see a way for the company to go paperless. The leader comes to the boss with solutions. A follower doesn’t even see the opportunities. Which type of person do you think is more protected from layoffs?



<h2>4. Build relationships. (Forget “networking.”)</h2>



“Leave every single person who intersects your path better, happier, and more engaged than you found them.” —Robin Sharma



As much as we value the brilliance of the individual, it’s only through relationships that we thrive. Nobody builds a fortune from their hermit cave; even remote workers need to play with the other kids from time to time.



As many achievers will tell you, your network is your net worth.



But there are two opposing approaches to creating a safety net of supporting connections around you. The first is a dirty word called networking. It involves going to “networking events” where the attendees spend as little time as possible with as many people as they can, and the winner is the one who hands out the most business cards. (I’m dramatizing, but you see the point.)



Networkers enter a room with the attitude, “What can I get from these people?”



The superior approach is to create a network based on relationships—fewer, but deeper connections; quality over quantity. Relationship builders approach interactions asking, “What can I give?”



Does this sound almost like how friendships develop? Bingo. If you choose to work with people you enjoy, your work will feel less like work and more like enjoying the company of friends. Take care to develop true friendships, not just collect business cards.



<h2>5. Do just 5% more than expected.</h2>



“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” –Zig Ziglar



We love people who give us more than we expect. Bosses raise both eyebrows when a project is finished early and under budget. Customers gush to their friends about that above-and-beyond service. And your romantic partner will never forget that day you planned the scavenger hunt that ended with a surprise dinner at your favorite restaurant surrounded by best friends.



You could have just followed the job description, stuck to the refund policy, or microwaved some pizza pockets for your soulmate. But nobody remembers the times you do what’s expected, because that’s the standard that most of us adopt: “good enough.”



That’s why it’s so easy to go the extra mile—hardly anybody is driving on that freshly paved, six-lane highway! This need not mean doing more than everyone else; that kind of one-upmanship is a race to burnout.



Simply rise beyond your own limits. That doesn’t mean doubling your exertions to be outstanding; an extra 5% effort can often generate rave reviews. What does that look like?



Maybe at home you do the dishes… AND clean out the toaster. At work you finish that research your boss asked for… AND tack on a page of analysis that shows how you can save $50k a year. With your customers, you might register them for the seminar but also throw in six free coaching sessions plus your book.



When you do more than expected, you get a reputation for delivering more value than you are paid to. Your own value rises in turn, and you become that much harder to fire.



<h2>6. Be the smartest person in the room… about just one thing.</h2>



“The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.” —Henry Ford



Do you try to be best at everything at work? The best salesperson and marketer and coder and writer? If that’s your strategy, all your work will be mediocre.



There’s nothing wrong with being a jack-of-all-trades (this is a badge that most entrepreneurial-minded folks wear proudly), but there is also power in specialization.



Ask how you can become a critical linchpin to the organization. How can you collect the knowledge, create the relationships or generate the ideas that none of your colleagues can, at least in one area?



Do you work in the marketing department and notice that your email campaigns are opened as often as a can of anchovies? Then take an email marketing course and bring new info and solutions—which none of your colleagues have—to the next team meeting.



You don’t need to demonstrate 5 out of 5-star performance in all areas of your job description. If you have just one quality that your boss or customer highly values, and can’t live without, then how can they ever let you get away?



<h2>7. Flaunt your good works.</h2>



“Leaders are not modest… these qualities and behaviors are useful for getting hired, achieving promotions, keeping one's job, and obtaining a higher salary.” —Jeffrey Pfeffer



The Western World’s prevailing ethics teaches us that a good deed done is all the sweeter if you downplay it. “Set the table without your parents asking you,” is the one piece of priestly advice that stuck in my brain after Catholic school.



Better still if nobody but you knows about it. We get that warm, fuzzy feeling from anecdotes about kind strangers paying for the coffee of the person behind them in the drive-thru.



There’s nothing wrong with anonymous generosity, but the benefits multiply if you let people know about your actions. It not only inspires others to do good deeds, but shows people your true character.



This is invaluable at work, where job security is on the line. Too many employees do excellent work that goes completely unnoticed, or is taken for granted. If you want to keep your job or your customers, you need to justify your existence from time to time.



This doesn’t mean constantly tooting your horn with tales of your heroic deeds; too much self-promotion feels gross and will backfire.



But DO drop a subtle and well-timed piece of information here and there with the people that control your fate—your boss, for example. Want to be uber-subtle? Share the information through a third party, like your boss’s assistant, who you know will pass along the message.



<h2>8. Love change. (It’s exciting!)</h2>



“Security is mostly a superstition…. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” —Helen Keller



Here’s a juicy paradox for you: Those who are least attached to security have it in abundance. That’s because the truly “secure ones” are flexible in their methods for creating wealth and abundance.



A fixed mindset individual will see only one way to make a living right now: to hang on for dear life to their existing job, with the strategy likely to be: work harder. But no matter how vigorously you rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, that thing still might sink.



Economies tank. Industries change and companies fold. Hanging onto the dream that manufacturing is coming back to your city, or the restaurant will be full again by Christmas, or people really do want to drive to a video store to rent a DVD on which they can eventually pay a late fee, can be catastrophic.



Hoping for all to stay the same, including the job you so fear losing, is futile. Change is coming, so you might as well learn to love it.



“You are already naked,” said Steve Jobs. Learn to love change and embrace the roiling tides. Without change there would be no new life, no growth, no opportunities, no surprises and no excitement in your life.



<h2>The Future Belongs to the Freelancer</h2>



Even before COVID, the idea of one company guaranteeing you employment for life was a fantasy.



Manufacturing has already fled “South,” automation eliminates $80k per year positions, and disruptive startups restructure entire industries while you sleep. Should we throw up our hands and accept whatever McJob the economy throws us? Heck no!



On this frontier there is more opportunity than ever for those with the entrepreneur’s mindset.



A 2019 <a href="https://www.upwork.com/i/freelancing-in-america/2019/">study</a> found that more than 35% of the workforce in the United States, or more than 57 million people, are freelancers, and the pandemic certainly bumped that number higher.



And these freelancers are not just dog walkers and Etsy side-hustlers, but many are top performers in their fields.



This is not advice to leave your salary behind to strike out on your own. But it is a call to adopt the freelancer/consultant/entrepreneur mindset, because it’s the best way to create invincible job security in any economy, no matter how many crises are swirling in the outside world.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Read next: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">Why Focusing on Your Personal Growth Now Is More Important Than Ever</a></blockquote>



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When’s the best time to quit smoking or start a new exercise routine? Strangely enough, on vacation. Why?



Because to change, you must interrupt your patterns. A vacation takes you out of a familiar environment and jumbles up your routines, making it easier for you to break existing habits.



What else has interrupted our patterns lately? Oh, right, the 7-billion-person lockdown experiment we’re just emerging from.



Sure, this pandemic has brought a great deal of sacrifice and hardship, but it’s also come with major <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/this-pandemic-is-our-teacher/">silver linings</a>.



For many of us, this has been the pattern-interrupting kick in the behind that we didn’t know we needed. Now it’s time to watch your actions carefully to avoid backsliding into the habits that were holding you back before lockdown.



Here are 10 bad habits you’ll want to watch out for and avoid as we emerge from our social isolation.



<h3>1. Living on Autopilot</h3>



Ask me in early March if I could give up my daily Starbucks trip and start writing from the chaos of home, with a 2-month-old baby. Well, I bought a Keurig and heavy-duty headphones and proved that humans can adapt to anything.



The downside of being a highly adaptable species is that we can dig ourselves a deep groove without realizing it’s so deep, we’re underground. Once lockdown hit, we were all forced to examine our longstanding routines. Mine involved too much garbage time: Netflix and Instagram. Now I play guitar for my daughter.



Let’s not be satisfied any longer with living the same day over and over again and calling that a life. Let’s not take for granted our virtually limitless freedom and infinite buffet of opportunities.



<h3>2. Workaholism</h3>



“I wish I had worked longer hours,” said nobody ever on their deathbed. Ambition: good. Achievement: good. But what was living at the office last year costing you? How many hours did you squander in those long commutes?



Worse yet, what is jam-packing your consciousness with endless tasks doing to your mind? At best it makes Jack a dull boy, and at worst it robs you of the chance for spontaneity that is essential for a fulfilling life.



The pandemic hit the big ole’ pause button for all of us, and I appreciated the reprieve. Stop scheduling every minute of your day, running from task to task. Protect the free space in your calendar and mind like you guard your freedom, because they are one and the same.



<h3>3. Being Self-Focused</h3>



The Chinese have two different meanings for the word “selfish”: the Machiavellian version familiar in the West, and one that means “doing what benefits you.” Let’s encourage the latter, because who else but you is more responsible for your well-being?



But a focus exclusively on your own wants and needs is the root of all the world’s ailments. When we clamber up the career ladder, we neglect family and friends, robbing ourselves of emotional support networks and love. When we walk around town ignoring passing strangers, when we constantly judge and see others as “the other,” we forget that we’re all part of the same Two-Legged Tribe.



Lockdown gave us a greater appreciation for our loved ones and even for strangers, because we were all in it together. Let’s not lose that empathy.



<h3>4. Tolerating Low-Value Tasks</h3>



A long time ago in a world far away, when we were still allowed to leave our houses, I made time for every coffee date with a loose acquaintance, to go to trivia (the word literally means things that are unimportant) every Wednesday night, and to spend 30 minutes on the phone with the cell phone company to save $10.



Then the pandemic gave us a gift: We were forced to examine how we use our time. I remembered the creed of the Essentialist: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/work-less-do-more/">do less, but better</a>. Separate the “vital few” from the “trivial many,” and be ruthless with your time.



Time is our most valuable resource because it can’t be created. The same can’t be said for money. Quit tossing precious hours in the trash bin of rush hour traffic or inane meetings. Quit saying yes to BS and allow only high-value tasks into your life.



<h3>5. Negativity</h3>



As a teenager, I proved how cool and smart I was with sarcasm and clever nihilism. Now I see that this was only the sleight of hand I used to hide my insecurities.



The danger of using negativity as an occasional crutch is that it easily becomes our default state. The brain is as malleable as putty, and those neural pathways become reinforced quickly, especially as a young adult.



The result for me was a long and messy battle with depression. Only after years of study and dedication to the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/25-self-help-books-you-havent-read/">self-help</a> path have I realized what Robin Sharma articulates better than me:



“You truly cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought—not even one.”



Plant one negative seed and it can fast become a mind full of tangled weeds. Negativity eradicates energy, pushes others away, and worse, robs you of the joy that is every person’s birthright.



Be the bouncer at the door of your mind and refuse entry to thoughts that don’t serve you. Take as much care with your words, too; they become your reality.



<h3>6. Procrastination</h3>



The word procrastination is tossed around in self-help circles as carelessly as disruption and pivot are in Silicon Valley. But what does it mean? It’s not laziness—extremely effective people dabble in it. It’s only a signal that negative emotions like <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/coronavirus-or-fear-whats-worse/">anxiety and overwhelm</a> are stronger than your motivation.



Unchecked procrastination is a lot like death—it <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/patience-is-a-superpower/">keeps you stuck</a> in a purgatory that robs you of your dreams, relationships and joy. Does talk of mortality make you uncomfortable? Change that perspective: Reminding ourselves daily that life is finite is a powerful inoculation against taking life for granted, and creates a thirst for living.



To counter procrastination, use Neil Fiore’s <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/beyond-resolutions-the-complete-guide-to-achieving-your-new-year-goals/#weekly">unschedule</a>, which asks you to schedule fun playtime before your work. That way, your brain will know that life won’t be one endless chore. Practice this and you’ll watch your stress drop while motivation rises.



<h3>7. Taking It for Granted</h3>



The freedom to go outside. Our health. The supply chain. Air travel. Haircuts, restaurants, even coffee! I took all of these conveniences for granted before March.



Science writer and historian Michael Shermer calls the space between World War II and 2020 our “75-year nap” because we haven’t faced a truly global crisis in that time. The Dow Jones has continued its upward rise and conflicts have mainly been “over there.”



Then a virus emerged. Overnight, all of the good fortune that we had pushed into our semi-conscious, and expected to last forever, was put in jeopardy. Our choice now is to go back to focusing only on what’s lacking in our lives, or to use this crisis as a call to start counting our blessings.



<h3>8. Taking It Too Seriously</h3>



When I was building a startup to bring solar lighting to African villages, a company promised me $1 million in seed funding. Then they took it away. That night I raced to the bottom of a bottle of whiskey, as if hurting myself could hurt them. In the morning I realized the insanity of taking setbacks to heart. In that moment, I decided never again to do anything without having fun with it.



Maybe you’ve lost a job or a business in these last few months, or are mentally struggling with isolation. We’ve all lost something recently, if only our freedom. Pain in any life is guaranteed, but suffering is optional.



When you can learn to accept the setbacks, you say no to adding suffering to the pain. Learn to laugh, play and see the beauty of life in all its shortness.



<h3>9. Wasteful Spending</h3>



When bars and restaurants are shuttered, malls are ghost towns, and planes to exotic destinations are grounded, how can you not save money? My wife and I love the extra cash in our pockets, and it’s caused us to re-evaluate our needs. Is a $100 dinner the best way to enjoy time together? Our $10 trip to the driving range yesterday was just as much fun.



Ask yourself: Do you truly need those 20 orders a month from Amazon? To fight downtown traffic and pay $20 to park in front of a trendy restaurant? Spending is not perfectly correlated to enjoyment. You don’t need as much as you think you do <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/you-can-choose-happiness/">to be happy</a>.



Perhaps all that stuff—the big house and the impressive trips paid for with credit cards—are actually blocking your joy?



<h3>10. Being Apolitical</h3>



Wait, don’t run away! Yes, politics has a bad rap. But that’s because what we call politics usually describes the co-opting and distorting of our systems. At its root, politics is simply how we organize our society and limited resources. In other words, the most important subject in all our lives.



Above all, this pandemic and the BLM movement has shown us the importance of good and bad <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-lead-in-a-crisis/">leadership</a>. Politics determines whether we can leave our homes and open our businesses, the quality of our police, the equality in our society, even who lives and dies.



We can no longer afford the luxury of being uninformed and unengaged. It’s my hope that, no matter your party stripes, we all become more involved in the world around us.



<h2>Bonus: 5 Habits to Embrace</h2>



Preventing yourself from backsliding into your old habits will improve your life drastically. But knowing what not to do will take you only partway to wisdom.



Here are five categories of habits that can fill the vacuum once you’ve kicked out the bad apples.



<h3>1. Sanity Activities</h3>



Call this self-care, leisure or living life to the fullest. To operate at our peak of creativity and productivity, all while being happy (which is the point of life, right?) we need to support our own mental-emotional equilibrium. These are excellent ways to stay sane in an insane world:



<ul><li>Take a real lunch away from your desk. “He’d wolf down a sad sandwich while typing with one hand” is not what you want on your tombstone.</li><li>Take regular baths. Heat and Epsom salts rejuvenates your body and spirit. Twenty minutes of peace and quiet in a place you can’t use your phone does wonders for your mind.</li><li>Music. Create it or consume it. Just make time for it in your life because a song can change your whole mood, perspective and energy in a moment.</li><li>Play. Arguably, every living creature plays. It’s natural, and it <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-self-awareness-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it/">helps us grow</a>. It keeps life from turning gray and boring.</li></ul>



<h3>2. Relationship Boosters</h3>



You should never look to a romantic partner to “complete” you or fill a void, but a loving relationship can be a bright flame of joy. You get out of a romance only what you give. Here’s how to invest:



<ul><li>Date night. Time together does not equal quality time. Protect at least one night a week for just you two, without outside distractions or everyday concerns. Never stop dating your partner and you’ll never drift apart.</li><li>Massage.Without physical touch, you’re roommates, not lovers. Massage is just one way to reconnect with your partner.</li><li>Eat at the table. True conversation happens across the dinner table. No TV and no devices, please.</li><li>Walk together. Closeness is built by sharing a journey. Every walk can be a daily journey and a chance to talk while your energy is high.</li></ul>



<h3>3.&nbsp; Physical Activity</h3>



To paraphrase Tony Robbins, a healthy person has 100 dreams; an unhealthy person has only one. All the money and time in the world is useless without your health. And without physical activity, you will inevitably lose your health. Make time each day for at least some movement:



<ul><li>Daily reps: As soon as you roll out of bed, do 10 push ups or squats. It will wake up your nervous system.</li><li>Stretch: Being flexible is an antidote to aches and pains, moves your lymph, and in the long run, will help you avoid injury.</li><li>Walk or run: No matter how fast you go, you’re lapping everyone who’s on the couch.</li><li>Skip: You can buy an excellent jump rope for under $20. Skipping is far <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/12-efficiency-secrets-of-the-worlds-busiest-people/">more efficient</a> cardio than running or biking, and you don’t need to leave your house to do it.</li></ul>



<h3>4. Friendship</h3>



Our happiness is tightly linked to the quality of our relationships. You can’t take your money or accomplishments with you. You can only leave behind people who will remember you either fondly or not. Make time for this:



<ul><li>Pick up the phone. Texting is utilitarian. Hearing a friend’s voice brings you closer. You don’t need to schedule it, just dial.</li><li>Start a tradition. Pick one night every week. Start a book club, a happy hour or a gaming session. It will become a habit you love.</li><li>Porch visits. Sure, hugs are off the table for now, but a conversation across six feet can be exactly what you need to lift your spirits.</li><li>Go camping. Parks are opening all over the place, and north of the equator, the weather is mighty fine. Sitting around the campfire is the perfect social distance bonding activity right now.</li></ul>



<h3>5. Spontaneous Adventure</h3>



Thank you, COVID, for messing up our routines and breaking our patterns. This is the perfect time to fall in love with acting on a whim.



<ul><li>Drive without destination. Pick a direction, and go.</li><li>Ditch your schedule.Healthyroutines and being organized are commendable—but scrap all that once in a while to go to the beach.</li><li>Explore a new podcast. You don’t need to leave your house to investigate the world. The quality of podcasts in 2020 is ridiculously good.</li><li>Move the furniture.When you change your physical environment, your perspective changes. Put the couch on the other wall and see what happens to your brain.</li></ul>



<h2>Jump on Board</h2>



Opportunities are like buses—they come along every 10 minutes, but if you don’t take ‘em, you don’t go anywhere.



I know I can’t be the only one who has been, for a long time, secretly hoping for some external event to come and shake up my life. We all wish that the opportunity wasn’t packaged as a horrible virus, but in any crisis, we have a choice: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">use it to grow</a>, or let it destroy you.



Our negative patterns have been interrupted bigtime, and that’s a huge gift. Do not waste it, get on the bus.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">Why Focusing on Your Personal Growth Now Is More Important Than Ever</a></blockquote>



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As we emerge from our social isolation, watch your actions carefully so you don’t backslide into the habits that were holding you back before. Plus, know the habits that are worth embracing instead.

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