Keeping great habits should be easy, but habits are inherently difficult – after all, they’re made over time.
Behavioral psychology researchers have created what I call the 3 R’s of Habit Formation:
- Reminder – create a trigger to remind you
(eg. place shoes in your doorway reminding you to run) - Routine – try to fit it in before or after something else in your current routine.
(eg. early morning before anyone else wakes up) - Reward – get something out of it, long term and short term.
(eg. brushing teeth = healthy teeth, and minty fresh feeling)
GREAT HABIT #1: DO WHAT WORKS
This is pretty straight forward, but mostly has to do with priorities and focus. Don’t confuse effort with results.
Persevere through whatever your research tells you will work. You think these 2 guys reached the summit of the Dawn Wall in Yosemite on a whim?
GREAT HABIT 2: FOLLOW UP
Did you know that 48% of sales people never follow up with a prospect, that 80% of sales are made on the fifth to twelfth contact, and that 50% of sales go to the first person to contact a prospect?
Spend time researching how others have seen results. Do what has worked for others in your field. Shamelessly copy the techniques that have worked for others.