How can you create a world-class career or a gorgeous life? The answer's a strikingly simple one: Live Great Days.
Your days are your life in miniature. Just focus on making the day ahead of you your best yet. Then get up and do the same thing tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. These days will quickly become weeks. And the weeks will slip into months. Soon, you'll have just polished off your best year yet.
The question then becomes how do we install the habit of living great days - days where we work at congruence with our values and days where we are positive/excellent and passionate?
I've had tremendous success with a concept I call "30 Day Challenges". Say you want to grow the habits of daily exercise and high performance visualization in your life. Start by committing to these 2 new habits for the next 30 days, as it will take about 4 weeks before a new ritual becomes your New Normal. Then, start recording the fact that you followed through on these 2 daily commitments in your journal before you go to bed. After a few days, you will not want to break your track record. And seeing the victories of the past days fuels forward momentum. Giving yourself 30 Day Challenges to install new behaviors is such a powerful tactic for leadership and personal success.
Please remember, mastery and greatness doesn't come from one bold act that then defines your life. Instead, they come from those small, seemingly invisible daily wins that over time amount to a Best in World career and a World-Class Life. So start today.
In Leadership,
Robin
Leadership For Everyone
Robin's Daily Podcasts
Monthly Big Ideas on Leadership
"The task of leaders is to simplify. You should be able to explain where you have to go in 2 minutes." Jeroen Van Der Veer, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell
"It is through creating, not possessing that life is revealed." Vida Dutton Scudder, American Writer
"Strong and compassionate leaders are built via struggle and setback." Robin Sharma
Monthly Book Excerpt: The Greatness Guide
Success doesn't just occur. It's a project that is worked on each day. You need to swim out to it. You need to make it happen (along with letting it happen - once you've given your best). As Vaclav Havel once observed: "Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up to the step; we must step up the stairs." So what will you do today to jump-start yourself? Don't postpone your greatness. Your time is now. And if not now, then when?
1. Begin every week with a clear plan of action. Begin every day with a clear plan of action.
2. Exercise first thing in the morning. This jump starts your metabolic rate leading to higher energy levels. It also pours endorphins into your system so you feel good through your day.
3. Do a Nightly Debrief where you focus on 5 good things that happened during your day as well as record goals for the next one.
4. Read something inspirational and innovative every single day. The best leaders have big libraries.
5. Spend time around art. Art stokes your creative fire and elevates your spirit-helping you play at your best at work.
Spaces have become available in the Masters Series Coaching Program. This program has been sold out for over a year, and new spaces have recently become available. Don't miss this once a year opportunity to be personally coached by Robin. Contact coaching@robinsharma.com for pricing and program information.
Visit the new RobinSharmaArticles.com to find Robin's best articles on Leadership and Personal Development
New for 2009! In response to the global economic crisis, Robin has created a new presentation titled High Performance Leadership in Turbulent Times. This new program will provide your organization with the tools needed to navigate the uncertain road ahead, deal with change management, and transform challenges into opportunities. For program details, contact: speaking@robinsharma.com
Keynotes and Workshops: Bring Robin to your sales meeting or association conference and experience one of the superstars of the professional speaking industry. He will wow your people with his powerful and results-oriented insights into leadership. Want more details?
