15 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do to Start Every Day—and Year!—On the Right Foot

As a new year approaches, hope is high, and expectations are even higher. It is easy to buy into the promise of New Year’s resolutions and then quickly become disappointed in yourself for not sticking to them. If you, like I, find yourself in this position year after year, let’s try something new: creating and engaging in small practices and habits to improve our quality of life, all without the feelings of failure that come from not sticking to huge resolutions. Here is a list of 15 things successful entrepreneurs do every day to start on the right foot—and you don’t even have to be an entrepreneur to do them!

1. Reading: Reading daily is proven to benefit all people, regardless of who you are and what you do. Reading has positive effects on memory and other cognitive functions, among which include teaching empathy and life experience, improving vocabulary and communication skills, keeping your mind active and fostering creativity. Setting aside 30 minutes a day to read—whether it be a novel, biography, or newspaper—is a peaceful act that relaxes you while also benefiting your brain’s many functions and abilities.

2. Sleeping Well: It is not uncommon to hear that a trait shared by many strong and lucrative people is that they wake up early, because it is for good reason: sleeping well and on a good schedule is thought to be one of the most underestimated yet important aspects of being successful. Creating and sticking to a sleep schedule can affect every aspect of one’s life, from appearances to decision making. Sleep is a pause button, allowing you to recharge while your subconscious examines and analyzes current situations and challenges, which is helpful especially to a successful entrepreneur.

3. Exercise: We live in a society that places the most value on looks resulting from exercise, which is why it is necessary that we, ourselves, autonomously choose to place greater value on the mental and physical health benefits that come from exercising. If you’re unsure where to start, you can refer to my article “10 Exercises To Do At Home—No Equipment Necessary!” for some ideas. Just one hour of exercise and time outdoors per day is a habit that produces lifelong results.

4. Setting Goals: When I say “setting goals,” I’m not talking about New Year’s resolutions or expecting to amass a million dollars within the next ten years (although these are great goals to have!). Rather, I mean setting small, attainable, short-term goals, such as not procrastinating on a work project or exercising 5 times a week. When you begin by placing huge expectations, you will more often than not feel disappointed in yourself; creating shorter-term, easier goals, however, will fill you with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment upon reaching them. Start small and you will surprise yourself, which, in turn, builds the self-confidence that will eventually allow you to create and achieve larger, long-term goals.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail: The truth is, nothing grows inside of your comfort zone—so how can you unless you take risks? Few people become successful by playing it safe; if you’re sinking all your shots, you’re probably not aiming high enough. Sure, you’ll start out by hearing one “yes” for every ten “no’s,” but that’s more than growth—it’s vulnerability. If being vulnerable doesn’t come easily to you, watch Brené Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability” TED Talk. She says it best: “vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” And courage is key to success.

6. Building Connections: Tying into the notion of vulnerability is the idea of building and maintaining meaningful relationships. Above all else is the human need for connection—the longing to belong—and this is achieved through vulnerability and emotional intelligence. Rather than investing only money, invest in relationships, too: creating a network of people you understand and who understand you pays off big time in the world of business.

7. Journaling: Journaling daily is a habit that incorporates and improves multiple facets of your life. Writing down your goals is journaling; filling out a calendar with deadlines and meetings is journaling; writing down dreams, things about your day, and feelings is journaling. It all boils down to the mindful acts of reflecting, thinking, and planning for the future, which can help to increase motivation as well as staying in touch with your mental and emotional well-being.

8. Do the Hardest Thing First: Like Mark Twain once said, “Eat that frog:” get the most-feared thing out of the way first. Whether the task is the hardest, scariest, or longest task of the day, doing it first to get it over with is the route which ultimately causes the least amount of stress. As soon as you get the hard thing out of the way, you free up a large amount of time and energy to complete your other easier or less stressful tasks.

9. Be Mindful: In the same vein of exercising and journaling is the concept of mindfulness, or the state of being conscious and aware of the present moment. This is something that takes practice, and exercising, journaling, and meditating are a few of the easiest ways to do so. Successful people are intensely focused on whatever it is they are doing, whether it’s giving a work project acute attention, producing the most effective results from a meeting, or absorbing information from a book. The key to mindfulness is noticing when your attention shifts from the task at hand to something else, recognizing that shift, and refocusing on the task. This brings a sense of peace while also ensuring that the best work is being achieved.

10. Fostering a Creative Hobby: Although entrepreneurship is not widely thought of as a creative venture, creativity is necessary for a successful entrepreneur. In order to keep up with the speed and demands of business in the twenty-first century, many successful business people dabble in a creative hobby. Just as reading gets the creative wheels turning, so too do things such as playing music, drawing, painting, and writing. Not only will a creative hobby maximize your output of creative ideas, but it also serves as a great way to unwind and practice the previously-mentioned idea of mindfulness.

11. Practicing Gratitude: Yet another tie into the notion of mindfulness is the idea that many successful entrepreneurs claim to practice gratitude daily. This can be done in a journal, through an app, or even in your head—all it takes is acknowledging a few things you are grateful for and meditating on them for a short period of time. Not only can practicing gratitude help your business flourish, but it helps to set you and your business apart from a sea of others and can also serve as the key to creating or solidifying important relationships.

12. Eating Well: As this list continues to grow, a few common threads can be found throughout all sections—one of them being teaching and stimulating your brain. You can follow all of the tips this article offers and not see results if you do not engage with this tip, as well: eating well and healthy. Maintaining good nutrition and fueling yourself with healthy foods is the most direct way to impact energy levels and brain output. Loading up on carbs, sugar, and processed foods can seriously decrease your energy and productivity levels, which can detriment both your body and your quality of work.

13. Staying Organized: While the concept of being organized differs from person to person, the main goal of organization is to make the most out of your time and keep your brain and body in order. Whether it be creating daily to-do lists, keeping a clean workspace, or making sure your inbox is decluttered, committing to your personal organization routine is what’s most important in order for you to be your best and most productive self.

14. Unplug Yourself: In a world that’s both physically and digitally demanding, it is important and necessary to take breaks from social media and technological devices when you need to. Keeping up with your social status and digital presence is extremely exhausting, so unless you’re a social media influencer or have another job that is centered around social media, time away from technology gives your mind and body a chance to slow down and recharge when your battery is drained.

15. Learn to Say No: One of the most demanding aspects of working and/or running a business is the amount of decision making that takes place. At all times, there are so many variables and things to consider that make saying “yes” even easier than it already is. However, learning to set boundaries and say no is crucial to maintaining focus and productivity. If you are unsure whether saying yes to a new project will affect your ability to manage and complete your current projects, say no—be mindful of what you are already juggling and how to complete your tasks to their fullest potential, instead.

For more information how your business can connect and collaborate with The 5th Floor Co-Working team, please call 407-658-6565 or email Info@The5thFloor.us.