by Eric Sprague, C&R Magazine 4/10/2023
Ignoring Social Media’s Success Trap the Old Fashioned Way
We all see on the internet and social media the hype and buzz around work ethic and success. Be a savage. Work 25 hours a day, 8 days week, 53 weeks a year. Mamba mentality. You need to start everyday eating raw meat and taking an ice plunge if you want to be a true success. Blah, blah, blah. I think you get where I am going with this. I understand that these posts and videos are meant to inspire, motivate, and obviously get the person posting a lot of likes and subscribers. I get it, these posts have their place. However, I think most of this is pure rubbish. In my life, I have been blessed to be surrounded by many high level business performers and I did not see any of them subscribe to any of the above notions. You know what they did subscribe to?
Goals, Habits, and Consistency.
One of the most important daily habits to develop is setting goals. Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve, and breaking that goal down into smaller, manageable tasks, is crucial to staying motivated and on track. Setting goals also helps to focus your efforts so you can work more efficiently and effectively. When I was just out of college, I really wanted to be successful financially. I had no idea how I would do it, but it was a huge goal for me. So, I took out a 3×5 card and wrote out my goal of doubling my current income for each of the next five years. I had no plan and no skills, but I had a goal and the desire to reach it. I walked around with the 3×5 card in my pocket and looked at it every single day, usually multiple times. By continuously reviewing my goal, I changed my mindset, my daily practices, my choices, and my way of looking at my profession. At the end of the five years, I had reached every benchmark I set on that little 3×5 card. The power of goal setting is real.
We are the sum of all of our habits, both good and bad. We need to be very intentional about the habits we engage in on a daily basis for us to reach our goals. To get good at maintaining the momentum to implement new habits, you need to create a system for yourself. First, having a consistent schedule can help to keep you organized and focused. This may include setting specific times for checking email, making phone calls, or working on specific projects. Having a routine also helps to eliminate distractions and procrastination. Second, developing good time-management skills is also crucial. This means learning to prioritize tasks and managing your time effectively. It is all too common for us to mistake activity for accomplishment. We all get an endorphin rush by checking off tasks; but are those tasks getting us where we need to go? Make sure the things you are doing are actually going to pay off. One way to do this is by using a to-do list or calendar to keep track of your tasks and deadlines. Another effective strategy is to set aside blocks of time during the day to focus on specific tasks, without any distractions. In addition to these daily habits, it’s also important to establish rituals that help to keep you focused and motivated. This could include taking a few minutes each day to reflect on your progress, or setting aside time each week to review your goals and assess your progress.
The last ingredient in this success recipe is consistency. The ability to do the correct things over and over for weeks, months, and years. It might not be super exciting, but many of the people you meet who are successful are just really good at repeating the right actions and behaviors time and time again.
So as you approach your work, don’t be swayed by all of the success memes and instagram influencers. Do it the old fashioned way, by setting clear goals to know what you want, habits to complete the work needed to make the goals a reality, and apply the consistency needed, over the long haul, to allow all of your hard work come to fruition.
