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5 Daily Habits I Use to Achieve Success

By Michael Stelzner

Have you found some things you do just work and you keep repeating them?

Well, I was recently challenged by Meryl Evans to come up with a list of my top daily habits that I use to achieve success. This concept was originally started by Aaron Potts.

So here we go. My habits that help me achieve success:

  1. Always hunting: I am always looking for new ideas in odd places. When I find something interesting, I apply it to my life or business. For example, when I was working on a website some years back, I needed to buy a special plugin. I noticed they had a forum used in an innovative way. That sparked the idea for a forum on white papers.
  2. Always writing: Even when business is slow, as it is right now, I take on small projects that I think might keep my brain and pencil sharp. For example, I am working on an article called, “The Darkside of Blogging,” just for fun.
  3. Quiet time: I have kids. I lead a busy life. I take time out of my day to get things done when the house is quiet. I read my bible and pray, read other blogs or improve my writing. I find it important to have “my” time.
  4. Document ideas: I constantly write little notes to myself. Ideas come in flashes and I either put them on a sticky note or call my office and leave a message for the next day. I am working on a children’s book and this is an important step. For example, one of my kids mentioned she was “allergic to fuzz.” I had to get that down for the book.
  5. Respond to every message: I attempt to respond to every message I receive, every day. That can be hard, as I received 266 messages yesterday alone. But I think this is an important habit that other’s respect AND it helps keep me sane.

I would encourage the following folks to share their daily habits for success: Jonathan Kantor, Tom Chandler, Whitney Potsus, David Airey and Jim Logan.

What are some of your habits?

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This entry was posted on Friday, April 20th, 2007 at 7:06 am and is filed under Random Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

  • Mike,

    Much obliged for your participation in the Simply Successful Secrets project and I apologize for taking so long to swing by here and check out your post.

    I share many of your habits, and I am especially careful to document these days. Between my own blog and products, and the hundreds of blogs that I read each day, it is a great habit to jot things down when they come to me, lest they slip through the cracks. I use a program called EverNote that keeps all of my thoughts in one neat stack.

    Thanks again for sharing your success habits, Mike, and be sure to swing by my blog on May 16th. I will be posting the master list of habits from all of the participants, and I will also be including a link back to everyone's site.

    - Aaron
  • Folks - You were asking about the dark side of blogging article. Here it is

    http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/01/the-dark-side-of-blogging/

    Mike
  • Whitney, welcome back!! - Mike
  • Well...this is what I get for going out of town and not bringing my laptop so I can keep up with my reading.

    Okay, Mike...I'll accept your invitation. Give me the evening to get my thoughts pulled together. I doubt that "workaholic tendencies" and "shortchanging on sleep" are quite what you're looking for. :-)
  • Hi Dianna - I am like you. I also go to the gym three days a week and have been for years. I am sure it has helped keep me sane! - Mike
  • Michael,

    One word: exercise. I try to get to the gym three days a week. In fact, I purposely start work later two days a week just so I can get to the gym.

    It really helps keep me sane! If I go a week without exercise, my back hurts, my chest is tight and I am a chocolate mess, to use my husband's words.

    I also walk the dogs 2x a day.
  • Hi Mario;

    Thanks for adding my site to your blogroll.

    I will be finishing up this article in the next few days on the darkside of blogging.

    The best way to make sure you read it is to signup for my newsletter at the top of this page.

    Mike
  • Mike,

    Let us know when you have completed the "Darkside of Blogging".
    In a bookclub I belong to, we had a few months ago the pleasure of reviewing "Citizen Marketers". One of our members opened a question on this topic and a reference to Citizen Kane. Here is a link to it:
    http://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=16322

    I haven't been to your site in ages. I recently started my own blog, and am happy to have you in my blogroll under communication. Keep up the great writing!
  • Hey Jonathan and David;

    First, thanks for stopping in guys!

    Regarding "The Secret"

    You should know that if you practice Christianity or Judaism, that The Secret is a form of secular humanism that is very dangerious.

    For example, there is a point in the book where the author suggests that had the people in India who died from that great tidal wave only had the right vibrations, they would have avoided such as catastrophe.

    Anyone who believes in a sovereign God should avoid "The Secret."

    Stepping off my box...

    Mike
  • Hi Mike,

    Thanks for the linkback! I'm in the middle of moving home and hosting my brother and sister at present, so time's limited. I hope to post about this in the near future though. There are a few other posts I have to make beforehand but thanks for thinking of me.

    Bye for now,

    David
  • Mike,

    I agree with all your points, and try to practice many myself, especially #5. If you expect someone to return your phone calls and e-mails (which is becoming increasingly scarce), you have to "walk the talk" yourself.

    One thing that I try to practice is a positive mental attitude. It may sound cliche, but it is amazing what can happen if you do that. There is an online movie based on a best selling book that really helped me in this area called "The Secret". You can watch the movie online for a minimal cost at:
    http://www.thesecret.tv.

    Jonathan
  • Hey Tom;

    You have been tagged to do a similar post :)

    Mike
  • Great post! #3 is especially important -- and might be the hardest of all your points to follow. Getting away from the keyboard is important lest you become jaded and turn into a grinder.

    #4 is one that has always stumped me (I must have terrible short term memory).

    Keep up the good work! TC
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