The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Close The Gap
What we do daily carries the highest probability of becoming a habit in our lives. 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 achieve 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. First, this habit starts with a shift in our way of thinking. Second, become passionate about raising the bar or exceeding expectations. No one pursued anything long enough to see results unless they were equally passionate about it. Third, elevate your value system and develop an internal resolve to do better and be better. This engine will drive your pursuit to be a peak performer and raise the bar. Do you have a daily action plan to exceed expectations in everything you do?
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 still impacts 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.”
Daily, Not Occasionally
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 is the habits we apply to the time we have. The biggest crime we commit against ourselves is to think that what we do today and what we 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. Our daily routines or habits significantly influence the quality of life we experience. Maxwell says, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.” This gives you a proactive instead of reactive posture to your day. Don’t drift through your day all the while hoping that tomorrow will be better. Develop a plan to capitalize on and maximize today by setting priorities while making room for future opportunities.
Don’t drift through your day all the while hoping that tomorrow will be better. Develop a plan to capitalize on and maximize today by setting priorities while making room for future opportunities.
I start my day with praying, reading, and exercise. This daily morning ritual is the rudder for my day. A daily ritual will keep you centered or even keeled throughout the myriad of unknown distractions, disappointments, or discouragements on any given day. My daily ritual also allows me to set the temperature for my day instead of letting what happens to me determine it. My daily ritual is my thermostat. On days when I don’t follow through on my daily ritual, I find myself more of a thermometer, reacting to the day’s conditions. On those days, I am left wondering, “Where did the day go?” Create a daily ritual that will set you up to make today count.
Final Thought: Don’t wait for tomorrow to do and be better. Today is tomorrow’s investment opportunity. Use today as your stepping stone to a better tomorrow. A quality life awaits if you make today count.
Keep on keeping on!
Discover Your Treasure 