Tag: IowntheMorning

Consistency: The Key to Building Lasting Habits

Habits are formed when consistent action is taken.

If I want to learn a song, I must consistently practice it. Consistently, day after day. No Excuses.

To learn a new technique in Taekwondo, I must consistently practice it—consistently, day after day—without excuses.

If I want to get stronger, I move heavy things—consistently, day after day—without excuses.

If I want to get leaner, I must eat well—consistently, day after day—without excuses.

New habits do not come because you manifest them. They go because you work at them consistently. There is no magic number, i.e., 21 days, 60 days, etc. It is up to you and how consistently your practice it.

Pick one, get started, be consistent.

# Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#iownthemorning

Know Where You are Going

Few things are worse than getting stuck behind a driver who does not know where they are going. They break at every intersection, trying to figure out if this is the one they need to turn. They are in the wrong lane when making the turn. They are dangerous to everyone else on the road, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. They are frustrating and challenging to contend with.

This problem can be solved if people are willing to take the time to prepare themselves for where they are going. It is pretty easy to do. Any search engine can provide you with directions and a map. Review them beforehand and be safer on the road.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be Prepared

#iownthemorning

#7 – Meetings

I am not a fan of unproductive meetings. The main culprits are unprepared participants. Attending or leading a meeting you did not prepare for is disrespectful to yourself and others. It is even worse when an unprepared attendee wastes everyone’s time participating in the meeting.

Don’t waste my time, don’t waste others time, don’t waste your time. Be prepared.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be Prepared

#iownthemorning

#6 – Life Happens

Life Happens, and we need to equip ourselves to react to it. The best way to respond is to be prepared. We can only prepare so much for things we cannot foresee. However, we can prepare by frontloading our schedules to free up time for when our priorities need to shift. The more you get done at the beginning of a workflow (week, day, session, etc.), the more you can meet the unexpected challenges you face. No matter how well you plan, there will always be times when your priorities, schedule, and times are challenged. Be prepared. Frontload your workflow.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be Prepared

#iownthemorning

Front Loading – Workouts

   It’s not that I hate working out at night; I hate thinking about how I still have to. I start the day with a small workout. When I get home from work, I get changed and hit the weight room or go outside for a run. Sometimes, I do both. This timing does not work for everyone, but it works for me.

Opportunity is another reason for front-loading my workouts. I do not want to say no to opportunities because I have not achieved my goals for the day, and I do not want to sacrifice my daily goals for an opportunity I did not anticipate. I don’t miss workouts. By frontloading my workouts, I can get the important things done and out of the way so I can be more receptive to the unscheduled possibilities of the day.

Have a great early workout, and be prepared to say yes to the opportunities that come your way.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#I Own the Morning.

Front-Loading Your Work for Success

I have a saying at work: “Life Happens.” This mantra reflects my reality—things rarely go as planned. When unexpected changes occur, it’s crucial to adapt and re-prioritize my goals. If I don’t front-load my work, I risk getting stuck in an endless cycle of catching up when “Life Happens.”

To stay ahead, I front-load my work in two key ways:

  1. Make Mondays Count: I make Mondays my busiest day of the week, tackling as many tasks as possible before plans inevitably shift.
  2. Own the Morning: I aim to get as many tasks done in the morning as possible. This approach ensures I can better meet the continuously changing needs of my staff and clients.

Without front-loading, I wouldn’t be as successful, effective, or efficient as I strive to be. This strategy means less work to bring home at night or on weekends, less stress, and greater capacity to support my team and clients. Front-loading enables me to react to change swiftly and focus on helping others when they need it most.

Give it a try and see how it transforms your workday!

#JustBeBetter

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Iownthemorning

Front Loading – Financials

     I am always trying to front-load my money. I do this by placing more into savings at the beginning of a cycle, paying additional principal early in the loan cycle (it is funny how I do not miss the money), saving up money for big purchases, and making sure I put money away for the “regular” expenses I encounter, such as event gifts ( i.e., birthdays, graduations, etc.), landscaping, training, etc. I can only meet the financial demands if I plan my expenditures and stay disciplined with my saving protocols. I check my balances every week and ensure that my current goals and expenditures align with my future plans (retirement and grandchildren/golf/travel). The more I front load, the easier it is for me to adapt when “life” hits and I must divert my money elsewhere. 

I put money aside each month to pay off unforeseen issues with our house. This year, we needed to divert money to pay for a costly and unexpected repair. Luckily, I had already saved up a good portion of the expense, so the hit to our other expenditure and savings streams, i.e., the vacation fund, did not take as big of a hit. By front-loading, I avoided being a victim of life’s little surprises.

Front-loading is a key to my financial success. Try it out, and let me know how it works for you.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#I Own the Morning.