A habit is an acquired behaviour pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.
What is the key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive and ultimately achieving success? It is the understanding of how habits work and how we can change some bad habits that have held us back from reaching our full potential.
If we learn the basics about how to change bad habits, we can transform not only our business but our lives.
There are many habits that influence our days – they guide how we get dressed in the morning, talk to our kids, eating our meal and whether or not we exercise after work or go have a beer.
Every habit, no matter how complex is flexible. The out of shape person can get ripped, the high school dropout can become a successful entrepreneur and the alcoholic can become sober.
You must decide to change and once you understand that you have the power to change, it becomes easier to rebuild.
“Habits are what allow us to do a thing with difficulty the first time, but soon do it more and more easily and finally with sufficient practice, do it semi-automatically, or with hardly any consciousness at all” Charles Renouvier
Once you decide to change a habit, it is important to write down the outcome you want to achieve.
Take small steps with simple to complete actions to get started and do them over and over and soon you will have made a positive habit change that will help you achieve your goals.
This may mean that you have to recruit someone who is more skilled than you to help you establish those steps. Once you have the recipe, you won’t have to be guided, because you are guiding yourself.
This habit change becomes your new self-identity and with a little support, you are on your way.
My personal journey has been filled with many habit changes, most recently with online marketing and not treating it as a hobby, but a business with real value. I have had tremendous support from my team and made many positive changes. With hard work and the right priorities, you can continue to make habit changes to improve your life.
