The Nature of Success
By: Lawyer Vaughn Jr.
Successful people tend to share the same habits. Here are some habits you can adopt that are being used by some of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs.
Exercise
Chasing success can be quite a challenging task so make sure your body is up to the challenge. Fundamentally, exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently (in layman’s terms, exercise builds endurance for your body). Exercising can also clear your mind. When biking, lifting, or swimming you are given a lot of free time between cycles to ease your mind and relieve stress. Thomas Corley, success author, says that individuals who make $120,000 a year shoot for at least 30 minutes a day. 
Sleep
Everybody loves sleep. Too much can be unfruitful; however, a lack of rest is also dangerous. While you are asleep, your mind is actually working overtime. According to Dr. David Rapoport, a NYU professor, sleep helps improve any “practices” you were trying learn beforehand. From swimming to reading, sleep can help you retain and strive in new experiences. Corley’s study shows that nearly 90% of the upper class get at least 7 hours of sleep.
Time
Manage your time effectively. Everyone loves to have fun; it is simply human nature. However, try to make your play somewhat productive. Instead of spending hours on Netflix binging the newest Marvel super hero story, try binging a documentary series. Your quiet time is a big contributor to your success. Similar to exercising, it clears your mind. Be sure to follow the advice of Steve Jobs and use your weekends to reset and plan out the upcoming week. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, says the weekend is the secret weapon of professional success that allows us to “hit Monday ready to go.”
Read
Reading is a healthy habit. What you read is very important and should be relevant to your goals. Fiction books can be just as useful as nonfiction books. The main idea is to make sure you are learning from what you are reading. Mark Cuban, Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and J.K. Rowling invest quite some time in page-turning. Their daily readings range from 30 minutes to a few hours a day. There is not really an exact science to this; it is essentially different for everyone. Some like to have fun with their reading, like J.K. Rowling, and others tend to be more serious.
Give Back
Contributing to your community can change your mindset. It can also allow you to become more thankful of your situation and help build a better perspective for achieving your goals. Richard Branson claims volunteering (and donating) reduces stress, re-energizes you, and also gives you a different perspective in your thought life. Corley found that 73% of the wealthy volunteer or at least donate.
Productive, Not Busy
Make sure you are constantly making moves to advance yourself. Do not be content with where you are. Even some of the most successful people in the world will proclaim that they want to grow. Ensure you are not wasting your efforts and time in outlets that are unlikely to reward you. If you choose to be bold enough to dedicate your resources toward a questionable outlet, make sure that you give it your all. Put your main focus on that dream and make sure you are in control of it. “It’s OK to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket” said Elon Musk.
There are infinite distractions that can prevent you from becoming the best version of yourself so make it a priority to invest in YOU! …and your dreams. You will definitely find that the sacrifices are worth the trouble.
For more help with planning your success, check out our “Learn” page at manpowermi.com/learn/.