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Many of the young
entrepreneurs I meet through my work as a writer, investor and
entrepreneur aren't reaching their full potential. What's more, they have
no idea why. They have great ideas for their startups and financial backing to
make it a reality. But no matter how hard they try, they keep coming up short.
If so, I’m willing to bet
you're letting a few bad habits run in the background, without
your knowledge. Bad habits often go unnoticed, like a slow leak
in a car tire. Until one day, when you're on the side of the road without any
advance warning there's a problem.
Success requires
technical skills as well as the grit, focus and energy to carry you
for the long haul. Success also demands self-knowledge. You must be able
to see yourself and your habits clearly so you can change them before they
stunt your potential.
Take a look at the list
below and be brutally honest: Do any of them ring a bell?
1. You're a
perfectionist.
This is one of the worst
ways you can sabotage yourself. If you live in fear of doing a task wrong, you
won't be able to begin. The stress of being perfect freezes up
creativity and joy, making your task longer, more difficult and not as
fun.
Give yourself permission
to create imperfectly. Make drafts knowing you won’t include some or most
of what you’re doing. You always can edit what you've begun. Greatness
comes from many failures and do-overs.
2. You're compulsively
distracted.
Surfing the internet,
answering a call, getting a snack, texting someone back quickly while you’re in
the middle of something -- it all pulls you away from intense focus. If you’re
constantly interrupting yourself, you can't get into the swing of things. You
could be setting yourself up to waste your whole day.
Turn off your
distractions, close your door and focus for a set period of time. If
you need to call, text or eat, give yourself a set break to do so. And
then have the discipline to return to the task at hand.
3. You hit the snooze
button.
Several studies have
proved 15 minutes of extra snooze time in the morning won't help you feel less
tired. Scientists found a long time ago that you need deep REM sleep to recharge.
Snoozing actually makes you more tired and fatigued. Even worse, it wastes
time you could spend drinking water, showering or exercising -- activities
all shown to increase energy levels.
Instead of lying in bed,
wishing for just 15 minutes more of sleep, tell yourself it won't make you less
tired. Get up when your alarm sounds, and start incorporating healthy morning
habits that will help boost your alertness.
4. You leave your
most important work until later.
Most people are at their
best earlier in the day, before they’ve reached the brain fatigue of
afternoon and evening. Don’t save your hardest or most important tasks for
"later." You won't have the energy to devote to doing it right.
Tackling difficult
tasks early in the day improves your work product. It also allows you to
relax as your day unfolds. You'll know you accomplished what you needed to do,
and you'll have nothing hanging over your head before you leave for the day.
5. You multitask.
Just because you think
you're good at multitasking doesn’t mean it’s the best way to get things done.
In fact, studies have shown that multitasking reduces the amount of short-term
memory you retain from your task. Over time, this reduces your amount of
long-term memory as well.
Multitasking makes you
miss important details and learn less. It also leads to mistakes. Skip the
juggling act and focus on doing one thing well.
6. You sit too long.
If you frequently use
your computer all day, you’re putting your body through some major stress. In a
sitting position, the spine becomes less flexible. This puts strain on the
lower back, shoulders and neck. It also reduces blood flow to the
brain and lungs -- the powerhouses you need to accomplish your best work
in the moment and later on in your life.
Take breaks every 20 to
30 minutes. Stretch your back and shoulders while you’re working, and consider
adopting a regular yoga or pilates routine. Stretching and strengthening your
body can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, back spasms, fatigue
and reptitive-motion injuries.
Bad habits don’t have to
rule your life or keep you from achieving success. Changing all your
habits at once can be overwhelming, so focus on improving one small thing at a
time. Before long, you’ll establish habits that help you be your best.
Written By:
Murray Newlands
Credit:
Entrepreneur.com
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