How To Fall Into Your Own Trap
You took the first step.
You started.Day 1.
Time to start thinking about day 2.
So now that you started, you probably need special shoes.And you probably need the special gloves to go with it.And you probably will end up needing another dry-fit short since you’re gonna be doing this new thing so often.And you should just pay for the membership all in advance since you’ll be using it all the time.. . .Stop.
Does this sound familiar?
Before you start allocating resources to things that don’t matter, it’s probably better to start with the basics first.The tricky part is that you really meant well.You were just leaning into the first step!But you fell into your own trap.
The most basic of basics is habit.
It’s not the details of how many minutes you should spend on cardio for your body type or which muscle group you exercise on Mondays.Before you think about anything that will cost you money or attention, remember what matters first:The habit.
2 Minute Action
Everyone has 2 minutes. You can use it to do burpees, send an email, or call your mom.Whats a habit you want to build?What part of it can you do for 2 minutes?This is your opportunity to conquer your excuses and start your day off with a win.
How To Get Another Chance At Anything
No more tips.No more tricks.No more hacks.
Let’s be real, you already know this.
Just like you already know that you need to eat your fruits and veggies, you also know that temporary behaviors will never lead you to long term success.In fact, you’re probably so sick of me saying the same things again and again!But it’s true.
Tips, tricks, and hacks are the “sizzle” of the steak.
The steak itself is the disciplined, day-in, day-out practice of principles and values.You can make those habits small but you have to make them consistent.
We are now in the second week of February.
Most people have already quit their New Year’s Resolutions by now.Maybe you did, too.The good news is that you don’t have to wait a whole year to start again.Today just started and you’ve got all of it to make a difference.You’be been given a chance to succeed, and the thing is that no matter what happens, you will be given another chance
2 Minute Action
Let’s go with a reflection and turn it into action.What’s something you failed recently?What is the first step to improvement?If you don’t know the answer, now is the time to ask for help.People who ask for help usually move on.Prideful people who don’t ask for help move slower and/or suffer through their experience.
The Brain Hack From The 60s That Still Works Today
Your brain works on a reward circuit.
- Stimulus.
- Behavior.
- Reward.
That's the cycle.
Example:
- You see the living room is dirty and kinda smelly.
- You spray Febreeze.
- It smells fantastic.
That's the whole cycle and its part of everything we do as humans. No matter what you want to do, you will need to face this cycle.In fact, super successful products like Febreeze, Listerine, and Coca-Cola have built-in rewards that increase consumption behavior from customers.This isn't new--it's called reinforcement and it was coined by B.F. Skinner and the other Behaviorist Psychologists in the 60s.
It works in business and it works in life.
If you want to build a habit, break a habit, stop dating the same type of person, start exercising more, finish that novel, improve test scores, increase sales, decrease staff turnover, quit smoking, eat healthily, or WHATEVER . . .You're going to need to understand this basic, fundamental human circuit for behavior and how people respond to it.If your employees feel crummy every time they talk to you, they are going to stop talking to you and leave.If your students feel empowered and capable every time they leave your class, they're going to show up and try hard.If your customers feel like they didn't get what they expected, they are not going to tell you (they'll tell their friends) and they are not going to come back.
2 Minute Action
What's a habit or behavior you want to start, stop, or otherwise change?Don't stop there.What's the stimulus, behavior, and reward?It's up to you to identify, test, and solve for this reward circuit. If you're serious about getting your results, you're going to need to figure out how to hack your own behavior and do what you need to do.
"A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying."- B.F. Skinner