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Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit!” I couldn’t agree more when it comes to achieving your goals and creating success! There’s an old saying, “Repetition is the mother of skill,” meaning that in order to improve or increase your performance, whether personally, professionally or financially, you must continuously and consistently practice the RIGHT HABITS!
Studies indicate that it takes approximately 21-30 days to create a new habit. This means that if you want to change or create a belief in your mind, it should become a natural habit after practicing it for 21-30 days.
John Dryden said, “We first make our habits and then our habits make us!”
One of the habits I’ve consistently practiced over the last few years that has allowed me to achieve many goals, is reading some-type of self-improvement book at least 60-minutes a day.
One of my strategies I’ve followed for the past several years is very simple, yet extremely powerful. Each January, I create a reading list (schedule) of which ONE book I am going to read each month. HINT: You should be creating a schedule too!
Three rules I follow:
Rule #1: I read 30-minutes every morning as soon as I awake and 30-minutes right before going to bed. These two times are when the subconscious mind is most receptive. Start your day and end your evening by putting positive, success-related information in your mind.
NOTE: Don’t try to give me the excuse that “you’re too busy!” It’s all about creating successful, winning habits! Get up 30-minutes earlier and turn the TV off at night and read a book that will help you to grow personally, professionally, financially or spiritually! If you are going to become a motivational speaker you need to start with motivating yourself.
Rule #2: When that month is over, I move on to the next month’s book, even if I didn’t finish the book. But, I always finish the book well in advance of the end of the month because I don’t read every word, and you shouldn’t either. Get in the HABIT (there’s that “successful-persons” word again) of skimming the paragraphs and pages only focusing on the main (important) points.
Rule #3: I always read with a pen and hi-liter so I can make notes of the most important ideas.
Remember what Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit!” Get in the HABIT of reading 60-minutes every day. It will change your life!
What habits are you going start? Leave a comment below:
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I read or listen to at least 60 minutes a day to personal development books and/or CD’s
Great advice James. We cannot become what we don’t actively do. Working with you as my coach I have learned the importance of investing in myself through reading everyday. I used to be one of those people who would say, “I just don’t have the time for that” and then I discovered it wasn’t that hard to wake up a little earlier each day. Today, by following your advice, I average about 2 books a month. There is always time, you just need to figure out what is important to you.
i always say james that the snooze button is not your friend ! this is great stuff i will pass along thanks
Kt Jones
Author 80 pound chimp or 800 pound gorilla which one Ru ??
http://www.gorillaspeaks.com
Thanks James. We should KNOW this but we tend to forget. We tend to be ‘to busy’ but with the right attitude and you to remind us these are great habits to re-acquire.
Thank you for the tips and guides, always love and appreciate your guidance. You make tough tasks seems so simple and easy to achieve. Thank you.
I agree with most of what you propose. Reading consistantly, and on a schedule is greatly beneficial, and a discipline I ascribe to fully. Where I disagree is in the idea of skimming the page when reading. It is in the details of word usage,and gramatical structure that you develop a sense of the authors true abilities and knowledge of the subject. If you desire to speak and or write, then close reading is essential to your own development. The correct use of the english language, a skill which is badly neglected today. Read closely and the beauty of the our language will be revealed, and your useage will improve as well.
John – You are missing the point. A wealth and prosperity focused person is reading to build their business and expand their knowledge. I believe in the law of slight edge – When I am reading a book there will be something I can gain from the author that will improve my business. It may be a marketing idea, a new approach, maybe one line that I plan to use when communicating with a meeting planner or new joint venture.
The point is this is not leisure reading. This is a daily habit of personal and business development. I don’t have time to spend reading every little story about “why” the authors point is true, or “why” it works…if I find something I can apply to my business regardless of the authors expertise I will use it because I am not reading this to fall in love with the author or the language. Read ever day to build your business…if you want to read every word, do it on vacation. If you want to be serious about your business you need to protect your time.
PS Be careful about writing a public post on the details of words and grammatical use being directly connected to abilities and knowledge of the author and leave 4 typos and 2 grammatical errors.
James,
I think that reading is definately fundamental and detrimental to ones personal development. I am in the process of reading two books, same author, and it’s what I read before going to bed. In the mornings I start my day with reading the Bible, it is truly loaded with fundamental principles on every subject as well as time tested wisdom on success and it’s origin. Thanks for all you do.
Ken Pasols,
Certified Christian Life Coach & Speaker
http://www.kenpasols.com
This IS a good discipline. Another is to join a book club. TIP#1 Find one with diverse mbrship, but hearts & minds you respect. Mine’s loaded w/CEOs, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. The accountability to the group is another reinforcer, moving me to keep caught up and bring great insights. TIP#2–don’t just read biz books or stuff in your discipline.
I carry a Gold Die in my pocket. When I look at it the 6 reminds me to DO MY BEST and the 1 reminds me to FOCUS.
The Gold Die is known as the Seven Sided Gold Die. The seventh side, is the inside. It reminds me that everything changes from the inside out.
Commit yourself to DO YOUR BEST and FOCUS!
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
The first time I read the quote from Aristotle, I never forgot it! I have this in front of me at my desk so I see it daily.
I have followed this reading pattern for years and it’s beneficial on every front. Morning is my favorite time of day, in fact, my family says I’m entirely too happy at 6am
I’m the type that hits the ground running. Exercise, prayer, Bible reading, time to pray and talk with the hubby, then the workday begins. At night, relax with a hot cup of tea and a great book that will help me grow.
Thanks, James, for the reminder of positive habits!!
Leah
I have found all that I have read and heard on this website today very useful. I do read faithfully, but not 1 whole hour a day and have forgotten to carry the highlighter into this project as I do in other learning situations and the skimming suggestion….both very useful. Will add these two habits to my reading each day. Thank you so much. Keep up the excellent work James!