January 28, 2016

When Thad and I wanted to improve our marriage, we asked successful couples what they did.  When we needed to get our finances in order, we asked people that had their finances in order what they did.  When we decided to start our Plexus business, we wanted to know what the successful people did.  We didn’t know what we didn’t know and so we asked questions.  We read books that were suggested.  We took uncomfortable actions.  We noticed a trend and then stumbled onto this list …. We’ve saved it as a reference – Successful People Activities.  Enjoy!

Top 20 Things Successful People Do

1. Exercise in the morning.

Rise and shine! That’s right, highly successful people exercise before starting their day. It gives you a boost of energy and creates focus that lasts! It’ll help wake up your body and prepare you for the day. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after a killer workout, right?

2. Wake up early. 

Waking up before the sun allows time to get things done before everyone else wakes up. It also allows for some important alone time, which fosters creativity. Early risers are one step ahead of the pack – calm, collected, and accomplished, when everyone else is feeling rushed.

3. Plan out their life 90 days in advance.

Research shows that successful people calendar things out ninety days in advance. With this intermediate time frame, you have a good idea of what you can actually get done, so you can estimate what you can actually do fairly accurately and make substantial progress towards a big goal.

4. Eat a healthy breakfast (I love my P96 shake with coconut milk).

Breakfast provides the nutrients and energy needed to jump-start your day after fasting overnight. Research shows willpower is also at its highest in the morning, so choosing a healthy breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day. I personally start every morning with quality protein.

5. Visualize their success (visioneering).

Highly successful people always visualize their success even before achieving it. They remind themselves what exactly they need to achieve and crush doubts before they even enter their minds.

6. Front load the day so the afternoon is easier than the morning.

Brian Tracy, in his book Eat That Frog, advises us to do the things that you dislike early on in the day. If you avoid procrastination and just do the thing you’re dreading, the rest of the day is easy!

7. They don’t use excuses.

Successful people take responsibility for their actions. If something goes wrong, they admit it and simply fix the problem. Successful people are determined to achieve their goals each day  —  no matter what. They don’t make excuses.

8. They understand their Why.

Successful people know they are driven by their Why and therefore have a deep understanding of it. A Why is a reason we do what we do. If you know your Why, then your path becomes clear. For more information on how to find your Why, read Start With Why by Simon Sinek. I haven’t personally read it, though several have recommended it.

9. They never give up.

Learning how to fail and keep moving forward is one of the greatest secrets to full-on success. Highly successful people know that giving up is NOT an option. Even if they fail, they learn what didn’t work, and move on from there.

10. They stay humble and constantly seek learning opportunities.

There’s a saying that successful people make sure they are not the smartest people in the room. They surround themselves with people who are smarter so they can constantly learn. They never stop growing. They know their limitations and admit when they don’t know something.

11. Unplug weekly.

It’s important to let your brain fully relax and spend uninterrupted time with loved ones. Happy and successful people make it a point to take a break from all screens and get outside. When at home, be completely present. Make sure loved ones know they are valuable and needed.

12. They network and build social relationships.

Relationships might just be the key to your success. To succeed, you need real connections. People will not trust someone they don’t know. Reach out to those whom you want to be part of your life, even if just your professional life, for a long time. Forget about receiving and focus on giving, and you will receive in return.

13. They listen to their gut.

Entrepreneurs place a high emphasis on intuition and instinct. They listen to the information around them, then trust the answer that emerges from within. For me personally, this requires prayer!

14. They are present and live in the moment.

Successful people know that no amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. So why concern yourself with it? It’s impossible to reach your goals or your full potential if you’re constantly somewhere else.

15. Step out of your comfort zone to stretch the edges of your ability.

In today’s world, those who are willing to take risks and step out of their comfort zone to push themselves to grow will be those who will reap the biggest rewards. Are you letting your fear of anything keep you from taking those actions or engaging in those conversations that will move you forward?

16. Find a role model or mentor.

Mentors can reduce the time it takes for you to become successful. Usually, they have already figured out what DOESN’T work, and are willing to share those nuggets with you. You don’t actually have to know your mentor. Many of my mentors are those whom I admire. The training they offer, the words of wisdom they share, the books they write, the sermons or podcasts they make available … it can all be phenomenal and anyone can benefit from their knowledge just by logging on to their site or podcasts! I do also believe in the relationship power of inviting someone personally in to speak truth that will love you enough to help you get where you are called!

17. They take naps.

Napping can restore energy, prevent burnout, reduce the risk of heart disease, and make you more productive! Napping can restore the sensitivity of sight, hearing, and taste. It also improves your creativity by relaxing your mind and allowing new associations to form in it. So if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go take a nap now.  🙂

18. They create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. You can achieve almost any goal you set if you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that seemed out of reach before, eventually become attainable, because you have a road map of steps for how to get there. Always know your next step!

19. They focus on making small, continuous improvements.

In his book, The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy talks about focusing on those small, every day steps that over time, add up to big gains. Successful people don’t become that way over night. They work their way there, day after day, year after year. They consistently do the little things that others don’t want to do.

20. They fail forward and learn from their mistakes. Rather than giving up, they use that information to make improvements.

Great success isn’t instantaneous, and failure isn’t fatal. In fact, it is REQUIRED for innovation success. I love the acronym First Attempt In Learning! Success is the result of trial and error over time. If you fail (and if you’re human, you will), don’t let it freak you out. Get back on that horse, learn what went wrong and keep going.