The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine – Mike Murdock
Rinse Wash Repeat
The first book I read on leadership was Dr. John C. Maxwell’s classic, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. The laws described by Maxwell which are still as good as ever placed me on a growth trajectory as a leader. Years later, John is still impacting lives and remains at the top of the growing list of leadership experts. John reveals that his secret to success is not what he does in public but his daily routine. He said, “Whenever I speak, I like to chat with people, shaking hands and signing books afterward. Often, during those times, someone will say something like, “I wish I could spend a day with you.” It makes me chuckle because, well, my days are pretty dull.”
Maxwell’s success is tied to what he does daily rather than occasionally. In his book, Today Matters 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success, Maxwell lists his daily dozen under the following categories:
- Attitude
- Priorities
- Health
- Family
- Thinking
- Commitment
- Finances
- Faith
- Relationships
- Generosity
- Values
- Growth
Maxwell has maintained this daily cadence of habits, and his success, significance, and impact continue to soar. Today matters because tomorrow is coming. The connective tissue between today and tomorrow are the habits we apply to the time we have. The biggest crime we commit against ourselves is to think what we do today and expect tomorrow are disconnected. This mental dissonance has incarcerated many people in a future they didn’t sign up for. Freedom from an unwanted future begins with bridging the gap between today and tomorrow. What do you expect in your future? Start applying habits that will close the gap and put you on the path to that reality.
The biggest crime we commit against ourselves is to think what we do today and expect tomorrow are disconnected.
Close the Gap
What daily practices are part of your routine to reach your expected tomorrow? My day always begins with prayer, reading, and writing. I would add exercise to the list, but my consistency is not yet at the level where I can add it. Starting each day with my big three (soon to be big four with consistent exercise) gives me a big boost for the rest of my day. I still face challenges, but with a good start, I’m at my best mentally to tackle them. Habits expert James Clear says, “…exceptional results are also the result of consistent daily choices.” What are you hoping to accomplish? The shortest distance between reality and your goals is your daily routine. Close this gap by breaking down the goal into small tasks that you can do daily to make progress no matter how small. Each day, you chip away at the monumental goal. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first men to reach the peak of Mt. Everest, did not summit the mountain in one climb but through consistent action. What are you willing to do consistently to reach your goals? Your daily routine of actions or habits becomes the system that catapults you to accomplish your goals. As you close the gap through your daily routine, the goal becomes within reach.
The shortest distance between reality and your goals is your daily routine.
Final thought: Do you believe that your daily routine impacts your future expectations and goals? How does your answer change your perspective? What daily actions must you employ to increase your mental strength and close the gap between your present and your future? Your daily routine of positive, growth-enhancing, and future-impacting habits will create a system that will improve your quality of police while propelling you into the future you desire.
Keep on keeping on
Discover Your Treasure 