How long does it take for something to become a habit? And are the habits of successful people simply ingrained in them?   

You know when you decide to stop biting your nails or go for a run every day and you do it for a week and then motivation starts to slip and you think that it won’t hurt to miss just one day and you’ll run twice as far tomorrow to make up for it and before you know it, the daily habit of that run after dinner is a dim and distant memory?

How long do you think you have to do something for every day before it becomes a habit, and what are the best habits that will help you on your entrepreneurial journey?

I don’t know if I have the answer to the first part of that question because I think it’s different for everyone – some people seem to take to things quicker than others.  But I do know it’s really important to keep going and to not give up just because something is difficult.  

Even when you really don’t want to do something, if you have made that commitment to yourself then its really important to follow through.  

Having coached many business owners over the past few years, I’ve come up with my own list of the top 5 habits the most successful have and I want to share them here with you.  If you can work out how to integrate them into your daily life I am SURE you will see significant improvements, as long as you don’t give up.

The top 5 habits of successful people

Journaling – taking the time each day to write out your goals, your fears, your worries and your successes is a brilliant habit to get into.  If you can do it first thing in the morning you will find that your mind is more clear and ready for a busy day at work.  I like to follow the style of just writing out whatever is in my head, whether it is positive or negative or a list of questions and just go with the flow.  Journaling with a pen and paper is much more effective than typing it out (no matter how speedy you are at typing) as it really encourages the words to have meaning and stick with you.  Just 10-20 minutes a day can be really effective.

Delegating – the best business owners know what they are good at and what they would be better off passing on to someone else.  You don’t have to do everything yourself, and in fact, you really should NOT be even trying.  Having a team of people around you that you trust to support you and your business is a game changer.  Spend a little time every day making sure they are on track with their tasks will leave you with much more time to focus on what is really important, growing your business.  

Mindset work – once seen as fluffy and not really necessary, mindset work is becoming more recognised as the critical factor in success and growth that it is.  You need to have a mindset practice that allows you to spend some time each day actively training your brain to be ready for success.  Whether this is through journaling, affirmations, energetic techniques such as EFT or other practices, you absolutely need to allow some time to work on your mindset.

Knowing when to stop – this is as important as taking action!  Working 20 hours a day long term is not sustainable.  Yes there is lots to do and yes we could all probably find enough to keep us busy all day every day but the rest of the world is also important.  I love what I do for a living and wouldn’t want to work a 4 hour work week, but I do understand the importance of knowing when to shut my laptop, switch off my phone and relax for a few hours.  Go and have a coffee with a friend, dinner with your spouse or watch your children do ballet or tennis.  Getting away from it all for a little bit of time every day is critical.

Taking action – don’t ever be afraid to stand up and take action.  Sitting back and waiting for something to happen is never going to work, you need to get out there and get on with it.  Every single day you need to be taking regular actions to make your business successful, whether that is by reaching out to old clients, posting on social media, making cold phone calls or doing something else that fits in with your business.  Always take action.  

Making all of this habit is easier said than done. I know this.  But if you can carve out just 30 minutes a day and start to put all of the above in place you’ll see the rewards. I promise.  And if you need my help to get there just ask me about my coaching packages.  I’d love to help you become my biggest success story yet!