Gauri Chhabra
As we slide into 2015, a clichéd phrase comes to my mind- “there are no free lunches in this world”.Things do not come easy. Maybe that’s because we don’t take it easy.Every year it seems harder than before…There are businesses to start, ideas to implement, industries to disrupt, career paralysis to break, and the day-to-day grind to churn through.Burnout seems like it is inches away, all the time. No matter what we do. Metaphorically, we seem to be a part of the engine that chugs at its own seams…. It is all a humdrum…
Before the newness fades and we go back into ‘cog in the wheel’ syndrome, here are a few habits that you can take along and stay alive in this process of turning over a new leaf in the calendar of life. Get along with these dear ones:
Dear diary…
Keeping a written record of your life is a powerful way to gain clarity, understand what’s going on, and stay mentally strong.Writing is a way to self- discovery. In your career trajectory, the better you can know yourself, the better you will be able to succeed. You uncover your strengths, learn your weaknesses, figure out your quirks, and figure out the way in which you approach and solve problems. This knowledge is invaluable as you’re creating businesses and leading people.I do a lot of writing, and I even keep a blog where I share my business exploits. This is what keeps me going. It’s not just the fact that I’m writing, but what I’m writing about. I connect the dots in my mind, discover new strategies, and develop a new way of looking at old problems.
One of the best forms of writing, of course, is a personal blog. Don’t be afraid to be transparent on your blog. Write about embarrassing stuff you might have done or the failures you’ve had. It helps you look at things in a different light – a fresh one and it helps.
Dear devil’s advocate…
Life can be very lonely at times. Keep your critics with you. These people- the devil’s advocates will question your ability, mock your attempts, and discourage your ability to succeed. But to counter those naysayers, you need some people who will slap you on the back, tell you to go get ’em, and encourage you forward. Besides, you also need a cheering section. When you’re tempted to give in, you need some people who will tell you to go on. It’s a constant uphill battle. Hang on to your supporters.
Dear adversary:
Now this seems like an oxymoron. How can an adversary- an enemy be dear? All your life we’ve hated our bosses, our colleagues and our adversaries…
We all have some adversaries in our life. Especially those who are in the public eye, sometimes gain negative attention. Enemies arise.But too many of us let our enemies drag us down. Whether the enemy is a disgruntled competitor, a lousy ex, an underperforming former employee, or just a bitter relative, we let their bad attitude get stuck in our psyche, making us maladaptive and generally uncomfortable. Our reaction to that person ruins our own ability to focus, to work, and to succeed.
Holding on to enemies is like clutching the railing of the Titanic. You’re going down.It’s fine to let your enemies enrage you for a while, as long as that energy pushes you forward. But after that, just let them go. Focus on your own upward trajectory.
Dear gym instructor:
We know what it’s like to push through 70-80 hour weeks. We feel as if we have zero time for anything but work, work, and work.And if you keep doing that without the right checks and balances in place, you’re going to burn out as fast as a candle in hurricane.What will help you to push through a grueling 80+ hour week? Work out. Exercise. Sweat
I’m not an athlete, but I give my body the attention it needs.My workout routine is nothing scientifically earth-shattering. 30 minutes working out – tons of productivity.
Dear teacher:
You are worth what you know.Most of us are self-taught go-getters. We work in knowledge industries. The more we know, the better we do.Here’s the challenge, though. Industries change. It seems like we have to replace virtually all our knowledge every few months or so.
Here’s an example. As a content writer, I used to optimize anchor texts and keyword stuff along with the rest of them. I watched my sites go down in flames with algorithmic penalties, because I was violating the changing rules of the game. I had to back up, teach myself again, and then engage at a higher level of knowledge.That’s how it works in virtually every industry. The more you know, the more you’re able to accomplish. You always need to be learning.But knowledge isn’t free. It requires time, energy, and resources. Every bit you invest is worth it.If you neglect building your knowledge, you’re neglecting one of the very things that keeps you successful as an entrepreneur.
Dear dreamer:
Well, this one is an extension of you… Each year set yourself for a new dream- a new goal. Do not limit yourself and sit back. Rest is rust. People who set limits on themselves will reach those limits, sit back, and feel satisfied with themselves. Winners don’t do that. The only way we can go higher is by removing the self-imposed ceiling.In one sense, I’m realistic. I know how to set business goals and achieve them. But I also ignore ordinary limits. In fact, I pretty much deny that there are such things as limits. It sounds foolish, but why should I put a cap on success? There’s no sense in that.
Dear party friend:
It’s stupid to burn out, especially since burnout is avoidable. I have a final tip. Don’t neglect it.Party hard.You’ve heard the expression, ‘Work hard; play harder.’ The implicit truth in this statement is that you can’t work hard unless you occasionally play even harder.Every now and then, I give myself a reward, and I go party. This releases the tension, gives me an outlet for a different kind of enjoyment, and keeps my mind from imploding.Don’t force yourself to do someone else’s kind of fun. If raging isn’t for you, then go curl up on your couch with a book, take a bath, or whatever it is that’s your thing.
The whole idea behind these secret habits is that they will keep you from dropping out, burning out, or scuttling back to corporate cubicles.But there’s another bigger idea. These habits help you enjoy what you’re doing. I’m convinced that you can’t be successful if you hate what you’re doing. You can learn to love what you’re doing by keeping yourself alive with these habits.
Are you ready to welcome 2015 with these loved ones and imbibing these habits?
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