Sum of All Habits
“We are what we repeatedly do.”
--Aristotle
One definition of success is the consistent accomplishing of established goals. The goal process can be related to parts of the human body:
- The Head = We see and identify our goal
- The Heart = We visualize and describe our goal with descriptive language to inspire
- The Hands = With our hands we execute the steps toward accomplishing the goal
Goals only become a reality, if they are pursued. Thinking, wishing, and wanting are important, but are not the same as active pursuit. Pursuit is an action word, not a passive word. We have to reach out to pull our goals closer to fruition through our daily actions.
Vince Lombardi, one of NFLs winningest coaches said, “winning is not a ‘some time’ thing, it’s an ‘all the time’ thing. You don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.” The essence of what Vince said is that the difference between successful and unsuccessful people has everything to do with the habits they have day in and day out.
Your Habits“I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and, after a few lessons, I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men; and alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a man. You may run me for avprofit or run me for ruin – it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. You know by now, my friend, that I am your habits.”
-Author Unknown
This unknown author understood that the secret to habits lies not in that we have them, but that we can control the habits we have, if we will only discipline ourselves to create the ones we want.
In the mid-1900s, a very successful life insurance salesperson and executive, Albert E.N. Gray, spelled out the issue in a well known article called, “The Common Denominator of Success.” He stated, “The common denominator of success --- the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful --- lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.”
His observation is profound and timeless. And by the way, the things that the failures don’t like to do…well, they are the same things that successful people don’t like to do, too. It is just that successful people have learned that to achieve you must do them.
High achievement depends on a belief system which involves forming the habit of doing those things we don’t like to do. Before launching any new goal or major project, look for those things that you don’t want to do. Make a list and commit to taking the first step by tackling at least one of the things you don’t like to do. It is amazing, the power that ensues when we move and take the first step. In fact, most people in life are paralyzed simply at the beginning and they never initiate. Form the habit of doing it NOW! Don’t hesitate, once you have your steps figured out, take action.
I am reminded of a movie director calling out, “Lights, Camera, Action!” Shine a light on your goal, map out some first steps, identify what you don’t want to do, and take Action to do those dreaded things first!
High achievers know that by doing things they don’t like now, they will soon be able to do the things they want to do – when they want to do them. High achievers know they must proactively form good habits. If they don’t, our human nature is destined to unconsciously form bad habits.
We form habits, but habits form our futures. Your choice is that you get to choose what habits you will have!
