2021 is here. Many of you have set new resolutions for this new year. New Year, New You! Been receiving emails about New Year 2021 Life Goals and planning. Here is an excerpt:
- In better or worse physical shape?
- Are your relationships better or worse?
- Do you have more or less debt than last year?
- What was your total net worth in January and what is it today?
- Have you learned a new language, skill, or built something?
- How much did you save or invest this year?
- Did you live in the moment and were you fulfilled?
- Add yours here.
Well, for me, it is about adopting high performance habits.
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly.
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
What is high performance?
High performance succeeding beyond standard norms, consistently over the long term.
Traits of high performers
- more successful than their peers, yet they are less stressed
- more confident that they will achieve their goals despite adversity
- uniquely productive – they’ve mastered prolific quality output
- work passionately regardless of traditional rewards
- admired and adaptive leaders
- happier than most people
- healthier than their peers
- get better grades
- feel appreciated that their work is making a difference
Six Habits that I will adopt in 2021:
-
Seek Clarity
End of Week Self Day/week Scoring
Every morning, I will lock in my focus and intention with great strength by answering:
The most important thing for me to focus on today is…
I want to be at my best today because..
A skill i want to demonstrate or continue to work on today is…
Something i can do to bring a little extra meaning to this day is…
Generate Energy
Practice No. 1: Release Tension, set Intention
Close your eyes for 1-3 minutes
Repeat the mantra “release”
Before opening your eyes, set an intention for what you want the next activity to feel like and be like.
Practice No. 2: Bring the Joy
Anticipate Positive Outcomes.
Set triggers for gratitude.
Appreciate it all
Practice No 3: Optimize Health
Rededicate to the basics: regular pattern of 7-8 hours of sleep. Turn off screen before going to bed. No visual stimulation from screen in the last hour. Read a book in order to escape visually. Walk around in the dark. Avoid drink too much water before going to sleep to avoid go to the toilet in the middle of sleep.
Try to do exercise 5 days / week. Walk 30-45 minutes a day.
Eat 3 healthy meals a day: lots of greens and few meat/fish (well sourced protein)
If you had heavy meals, wait for 2 hours (min) before eating something light. “if a country is well nourished, its capacity to economically go up is more”
Form my Pro Health team who would comprise of:
Exercise Friends
Sports Medicine doctor
Nutritionist
Physical Therapist
Raise Necessity
At the start of every major activity: “who needs me on my A game the most right now?”
“Why is it imperative for me to deliver with excellence today?” – because if i am late, i am going to miss the lunch.
High Performers make bold promise. Tell the world it’s coming. Commit to a BIG STEP.
Set a deadline that one must meet or set, and the reason that deadline is important is…
Increase Productivity
Practice 1: Increase the Outputs that matter. One might be working on different products, but think like Steve Jobs, who focused on only few products and launched bestsellers – ipod, iphone, ipad. Do that MORE – 60% of your week producing outputs that matter.
Practice 2: Practice Progressive Mastery
Practice 3: Take Regular breaks.
Butt hits chair. 50 minute creative work spring begins
followed by a 5 – 10 min break.
Practice 4: Spend 20 minute excellence planning. Define excellent performance in each major activity of the day.
Develop influence
Practice 1: Teach People how to think.
Constantly strategise how you want people to be thinking, then say things like: ‘Think of it this way..’ , ‘what do you think about…’, ‘what would happen if we tried…’, ‘what’s the best way to think about this?’
Practice 2: Challenge People
Practice 3: Move Conversations to Action
Ask a lot of questions but ALWAYS end with ACTION
Practice 4: Attain Freedom. Be financially free to take decisions
Demonstrate Courage
Practice 1: Honour the Struggle. Build a different mindset.
Practice 2: Identify what is SCARY, but necessary to get done, move toward or grow into. Take 5 actions toward it this week, one action per day.
