Personal Development: 10 Actionable Strategies to Increase Performance
"If you want what no one else has, you must do what no one else is willing to do."
- Unknown. Probably, Jim Rohn.
You want to be a high performer.
You've got dreams, ambitions, and goals that aren't going to manifest if you simply keep doing what you're already doing..
But what else can you do?
It can be tough to stand out in a global marketplace teeming with talented and ambitious individuals all trying to gain an edge.
New talent seemingly rises up on a daily basis promoting disruptive products and services in your industry.
Watching everyone else dominate the influential and authoritative spheres in which you'd like to penetrate can be overwhelming and induce feelings of apathy, especially if you're new to the game!
But each of those individuals and brands you admire (more possibly, loathe) started out from ZERO at some point to get where they are now, which is where you want to be.
Countless individuals have "done the impossible" and "made it big" in spite of the already crowded community of excellence at the top.
If you're serious about wanting to join the best, you've got to live like the best.
"Successful people do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do."
Dave Del Dotto
These 10 actionable strategies will optimize your focus, clarity, and attention in every area of your life.
If taken seriously, they will not only catapult your success, but become valued cornerstones you fall back on in both times of struggle and success.
The 10 Actionable Strategies to Increase Performance
1. Gratitude Practice
Action > Write down 5 things you're grateful for every morning.
Not kidding. This is a game-changer. Write down 5 things you're grateful for every morning.and watch your attitude and optimism in your business and life soar.
Helpful tips to make this more effective include;
Get a small physical journal or notebook specifically for your gratitude practice
Leave it on your pillow or night stand so you'll see it each night
Create a quiet and reflective space
Write full sentences
Include WHY you're grateful for that particular item
Force yourself to get creative; don't repeat items from yesterday.
Ex: I'm grateful for you reading this article because it will significantly enhance your energy, attitude, and overall wellbeing.
You'll see there's a lot to be grateful for when you make a habit of looking for it.
2. Meditate
Action > Meditate at least 5 minutes a day.
Meditation helps to increase the time between stimulus and response. Between emotional trigger and response.
It allows space to pause and think about how to act more in alignment with your most masterful self, as opposed to flippantly reacting to everything coming your way.
You are the master of your reality.
Meditation helps bring this truth into focus.
3. Read
Action > Read 10 pages of a book every day.
Leaders are well informed. They are at the cutting edge of their industry.
They have a grasp both on what's going on in the world as well as their place in it.
They are constantly learning new ideas and trying to challenge their current perspectives.
Pick up an interesting book and carry it around with you wherever you go until you finish it.
Then pick up a new one and continue this forever.
4. Journal
Action > Journal for 5 minutes at the end of each day.
A lot can happen throughout the course of a single day, especially if you're an entrepreneur or freelancer putting your soul and sweat equity into building something you can be proud of.
Fear. Overwhelm. Apathy. Excitement. Confusion. Self-doubt.
And that's just before lunch!
Having a journaling practice at the end of the day to reflect on what you're thinking about is a great option to get out of your own head and bring some peace to the matter.
Writing down what's going well and what I'm confused about often helps me clearly see my next best step forward.
5. Move your body
Action > Move your body for at least 30 minutes every day.
There's a million excuses preventing you from exercising and there's a million more reasons why you should be moving your body each and every day.
Feel happier
Increase energy
Increase brain health and memory
Strengthens muscles and bones
Improves weight and fat loss
Improves hair and skin health
Improves sleep
Improves sex life
Reduces fatigue
Reduces chronic disease
Decreases anxiety
Decreases depression
and so much more!
If you're serious about wanting to be an elite performer in your field and you still don't exercise on a regular basis, REACH OUT TO ME IMMEDIATELY! Let's have a quick conversation about what's getting in the way and I promise we'll find a solution that works for you.
I've heard all the excuses, from not enough time or money to being too embarrassed to go to a gym or confused about what will actually work.
The only way to get to the top is to dial in your movement practice and there's a thousand different ways to do that. I guarantee we'll find one that works well for you!
6. Eat well
Action > Eat real food, not too much.
If you're not eating well, it's highly unlikely that you'll have the energy, drive, and clarity to really show up in your work and make meaningful progress in any condensed amount of time.
Whether you want those abs to finally come in or you just want to be a more dependable leader, most of your problems can be fixed in the kitchen.
Everyone's different and so I'm not going to pose a specific meal-plan for everyone, but there's a few immediate actions you can take to start optimizing your life and leadership today starting with these 5.
All of the world's most successful diets have these 5 things in common!
Eat real foods
Avoid processed foods
Reduce refined carbs (think starchy foods like grains).
Reduce added sugars
Reduce trans-fats
The nutritional science world is one of the most hotly debated corners of academia and general public alike, but regardless of paleo, vegan, Mediterranean, vegetarian, pescatarian, etc. diet, all the experts agree on these 5 principles.
Follow these principles and watch you health, focus, and energy soar!
7. Evening Shutdown routine
Action > Turn off all devices and dim lights at least an hour before bed.
Almost everyone's talking about morning routines these days, but what usually goes completely overlooked is the need for an effective and sustainable evening shut down routine that enables you to rise and shine with vitality consistently.
A shutdown routine is a nightly series of actions or behaviors that allow your body to wind down so you can go to bed and effectively rest through the night to wake up feeling rejuvenated.
Here's a few suggestions for an effective evening shutdown routine:
Go to bed at the same time every night (your body likes habits and will start to shut down automatically at certain times when you are consistent with your wake and sleep schedule).
Start your evening shutdown routine at the same time every night ( at least 1 hour before bed).
Dim all the lights
Screens off, phones away, no social media, and no technology.
It's time to unplug and unwind.
Light candles.
Make some tea.
Read, meditate, journal, connect with your partner, play an instrument, etc.
**Note: You should think of your bedroom as a Sleep Sanctuary. Create a technology free zone in your bedroom (our mind loves associations and if your bed is associated with watching tv, then it's not associated with deep sleep).
Your ability to effectively unwind, accept all that has and hasn't happened, let go of the control of endless solution-ing to all your problems, and ultimately rest at the end of a day is directly correlated to how powerfully available and present you can be the following day.
8. Morning routine
Action > Give yourself at least an hour each morning for self care and/or development.
A good morning routine starts with a good evening routine.
Waking up at the same time each morning is key to a successful morning routine, and it's a lot easier to do that if you're going to bed at the same time each night.
And yes, let's stop playing little league, I'm talking about the weekends too. If you're serious about being your best self, then your ability to gain a competitive edge is found in developing yourself and not out at the bar at 2am anyways.
Go to bed at the same time - wake up at the same time.
Get up early enough that you have at least an hour for yourself before rushing into the world of problems and opportunities awaiting you in your work.
Some suggestions for making the most of your personal power hour each morning include;
Move your body first thing
Simple as 10 jumping jacks, 10 pushups, or a walk around the block, and as much as a full gym session if you're ready for it.
Sunshine
Get as much of your body into the sunshine as possible as early as possible
Miracle Morning Cocktail as popularized by Aubrey Marcus
8 oz. glass of water with a squeeze of lemon, pinch of himalayan sea salt.
Cold shower as popularized by Wim Hof
If you can't do an entire cold shower, start with the last 10 seconds of every shower before hopping out to wake up the nervous system. Trust me, you'll feel more alive than ever.
Make a healthy breakfast
I've been eating steel cut oats for years and they are the perfect start to an energetic day!
Watch or read something educational, inspiring, or developmental with breakfast
My favorites include, Impact Theory, Philosopher's Notes, and Gary Vee
Meditate
I use the app Insight Timer each morning to time and track my meditations.
Express gratitude
5 things you're grateful for as discussed in point #1.
And then get after it!
9. Surround yourself with a strong team
Action > Join a Mastermind.
I'm a firm believer that everyone should have a personal board of advisors they go to when dealing with a tough decision or problem they need help working out.
It can be hard to make clear and rational decisions when we're so close to our own problems for a prolonged period of time.
If you're not in a mastermind, I suggest you find one.
This is one of their primary purposes.
A mastermind is a braintrust intentionally designed by bringing together like-minded individuals to support each other's growth.
Your ability to grow and lead effectively depends on your ability to see your blindspots, explore your limiting beliefs, and to hear ideas you haven't yet thought of.
This is what a mastermind is for.
If you're serious about wanting to develop yourself and you're not part of a mastermind, please explore ours today HERE.
10. Do more of what you love
Action > Spend more time engaged in what makes you happy.
I care about making an impact and reducing the staggering amount of suffering around the world as much as anyone.
But if all you do is work and try to get ahead, then you're not going to like yourself much when you get there.
If you like hiking, make time to go on a hike each week.
If you like playing an instrument, set aside time to play a few times each week.
If you enjoy watching the latest films, then maybe you go to the theater every Sunday.
The point here is to spend more time engaged in what actually makes you happy, regardless of what the world and your competition, and social media thinks about it.
What's the point a life devoid of getting lost in activities that bring us happiness?
Not much as far as I'm concerned.
So do more of what you love.
Wrap Up
And there you have it, the 10 Actionable Strategies to Increase Your Performance, grow your business, and lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life!
Did I miss something that you would add?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Here's to you Actualizing Your Potential!
--
With gratitude,
Dennis McGinley
Founder and Performance Coach @ STRIVENT
"Actualize your Potential!"
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