How to be successful? It does not work overnight. It needs millions of efforts and months, even years, to be a successful person. The key is your dedication, decision-making, problem-solving, and positive attitude. Following a routine is good but will not make you a more successful person. I have heard most of the motivational influencers say to follow a specific routine for six months and you will be a more successful person, like waking up at 05:00 am, going for a workout, making a timetable, spending time on your work, eating and sleep for 07-08 hours. But does this work?
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This can work at some point but will not help you with long-term goals. Let’s understand it with one example. One of my friends followed a success-focused routine for nearly two years for “How to be successful”. He wakes up at 05:15 am every morning, eats a bowl of blueberries and apple slices, which he placed in the refrigerator the night before, and then chugs a 16-ounce water bottle. Next, he warms up, stretches for 5 minutes, and hops on his Peloton for at least 30 minutes daily.
But one day, a pedal of his Peloton broke. He just ordered the part and waited till it was fixed, and from that day, his morning routine started to fall apart. He was not able to exercise because his Peloton was not working. As he could not exercise, he stopped waking up early, eating apples and berries, and drinking water. And now, the improvement ripple effect, which tells us that improving one thing does not matter how small it is; it will naturally lead to improvements in other areas. This turned out to start working the opposite way as his entire routine fell apart with the same question still standing in his mind: “How to be successful?”
I am not saying that routine does not play any part if you are looking for “How to be successful.” Routines play a vital role in becoming successful. Like breaking down your long-term goals into daily tasks and performing them in a routine daily, day in and day out. This is the thing that most people do to become successful and accomplish their dreams. Routines are great until something disrupts their routine.
The more you are into your routine, the more likely a broken link can disrupt your routine. So, how can you stop that from happening? The answer is simple: turn your routine into practice. This is the key to “How to be successful.” Now, let’s understand the difference between routines and practices.
How To Be Successful: Routines vs Practices
Let’s understand the difference between routine and practice with the example of a friend whose routine has fallen apart due to one broken link.
- Riding the Peloton every day in the morning was a routine, but exercising every day is a practice.
- Eating slices of apple and blueberries was a routine, but eating healthy before your workout is a practice.
- Having a Zoom meeting with your employees around 09:00 am is routine. However, checking in with your employees regularly to see if they need any help or guidance or having a quick word of encouragement and motivation is a practice.
There is a slight difference between routine and practice. Routine is what you do, and practice is also what you do, but more appropriately, practice is who you are. Let’s take another example to simplify “How to be successful” more.
Suppose your bike’s pedal has broken, so why disrupt your routine? Pick another exercise alternative and spend 30 minutes engaging in body weight exercises, jogging, or hitting a few HIIT workouts. Bike might be your preferred option, but it’s not like you can’t do anything else. There are still plenty of options for you that serve the same motive.
As the famous author, Ryan Holiday, once wrote,
The difference is in the flexibility. One is about daily rhythm. The other is a lifelong pursuit. One can be ruined by something as simple as hitting the snooze button one too many times or getting called into work unexpectedly. The other can adapt accordingly. One (a routine) is something you made up. The other (a practice) is something you do.
So, if you are here for “How to be successful?” When something happens with your routine, don’t stick to what. Instead, think about the Why? Think about the goals you have to achieve and your routine, which was helping you achieve that goal, and work on another alternative.
Thus, it would be best never to lose sight of your goal because every element in your routine is part of achieving it. If it is not, then why is it there in your routine? Think about that. So, never stick to that broken link. Focus on achieving your goal in different ways. Various options are available to achieve those goals, and they answer your question, “How to be successful?” You can find various best alternatives to eat healthy, exercise, check in with your employees, and get feedback from your customers, or to do almost everything.
Because no matter how important your routines are or how carefully you have designed them, routines are not the real you. Routines are simply what you choose to do, and a kink in your routine can’t change who you are and, most importantly, who you want to become. These are practices unless you let your routine decide it for you.
I hope you understand how to be successful and not depend on your routine. So stop making excuses and find your way to achieve your goals. That’s what will make you more successful.
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