“How would you behave if you were the best in the world at what you do?”

In response to how COVID-19 has disrupted our norm, many people are re-thinking their lives and contemplating new career opportunities. 

Whether that means switching industries, gaining new skill sets, or becoming an entrepreneur, these kinds of changes will require a completely different level of effort.

There’s a huge difference between dreaming of a major life change and actually bringing that dream to life. 

We have to take a realistic look at where we are and what it will take to get to where we ultimately want to be. 

I’m one of those people who is trying to make a drastic change in my life, and I was recently confronted with this very question I’m posing to you. It forced me to examine my desires in relation to my behavior.

I began to look at how I’m spending my time. Then, questioning if it lines up with the actions of someone at the top of the field I’m trying to occupy. 

My answer was a resounding NO!

The reality of my honest answer was a wake-up call. 

I found there are some moments of excellence within my day, but far more moments of unfocused, undisciplined behavior. 

Once I realized that, I had to decide my next steps. What could I do differently to ensure I can accomplish my ultimate goal of operating a business that allows me to “Work From Anywhere” (WFA)?  

WFA has been my mantra for 2020 since the start of the year. In fact, I keep a sticky note on my laptop that says “WFA”. It serves as a constant reminder of my goal. 

But that alone is not enough to ensure I accomplish my goal.

I took a look at the mentors I have who are dominating the industry. It was a sobering reality.

I noticed two major things that I believe contribute to their success: content and consistency.

They put out content on a consistent basis. Not only that, but it’s quality content. 

I could easily make the excuse that they have far more resources than I do, but that’s a cop out. Just because I don’t have the fiscal resources they have doesn’t mean I can’t perform better at the level from which I am capable of operating. 

So, ask yourself, what can you do with what you have? Are you maximizing your efforts and leveraging your resources?

I wasn’t. 

Since then, I’ve made some changes that I know will make a difference. They already are.

1. Structured my day. Before the quarantine I had a great morning routine that included prayer, meditation and exercise. So, I stopped sleeping in and started back getting up at 5am. Robin Sharma has an excellent book, “The 5am Club”; it reminded me of the value of getting up early. It gave a me a format I’ve been following for the past month. It’s one of the commonalities of successful people. They get up early. 

• Get adequate sleep. I have a regular bed routine. As often as possible, I go to bed around the same time every day. I especially do this during the week. It’s easier to get up at 5am if I go to bed. Sleep is a valuable commodity that most people discount.  The more rested I feel, the more productive I am. 

• Be active every day. Part of the 5am routine Robin Sharma prescribes is to start the first 20 minutes with activity. I start my day with stretching. After laying in the bed all night, it feels amazing to get my blood circulating first thing in the morning. It helps me shake off the morning aches in my back and wakes me up much quicker. I look forward to this time every day. This practice has shifted my mindset about working out. Yes, I need to burn calories through working out, but I also need to just move my body.  

These are some of the things the best in my field are doing. I’ve adopted these practices and several more. I’m also being more consistent with content creation, enhancing my skillset by reading more, and learning new technology to produce high quality content. 

So, now that you’ve read my response to this critical question, I’d love to know how you’d answer this for yourself. 

Was there any part of this blog that resonated with you? Please share your comments on the blog.

Until next time….

Be VISIONary!