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As an ukbusinessupdates.com, everyday rituals may be the driving force you didn’t know you needed. A beautiful quote from author Mike Murdock reads: “The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”
It’s a simple concept, yet such a powerful concept that resonates deeply with me. While it may not be obvious even to those who know me well, I’ll happily admit that by nature I’m not the most structured CEO you’ll ever meet. But notice I said naturally. In fact, I am very disciplined in my approach to the day-to-day actions involved in running such a dynamic global franchise system as The Alternative Board. Because I have realized that routine is not innate in me, I am very conscious about creating and maintaining structure and habits during my leadership role.
Being devoid of regular daily sequences just makes me feel out of sync. Less effective. Less adaptive. Less purposeful. And I just don’t like that feeling of being out of balance and out of control. I mean who actually does that?
When I’m committed to a routine, life and work, I feel much more productive and even restorative. My best days are a great start. I wake up before the sun comes up. I’m going for a walk with my dogs. I spend some time with my family. Then I go to the office, where I check my agenda and meet my leadership team every morning. This well-honed start to my day – every day – helps generate direction and enthusiasm for the hours ahead.
All those little habits and rituals I’ve cultivated over time have a lot of power. They help define who I am as a business leader, they set the bar for accountability within my team, and they trickle down to drive action across the company. My daily routine has served me and the entire organization well.
Related: How to Master Your Morning Routine
What is your winning routine?
Do you have a consistent daily formula for success? If not, it’s time to start building one. Consider dedicating specific time each morning to reviewing your goals, planning your day, and prioritizing tasks (I suggest tackling the most important ones first).
Your daily routine as a business leader should include self-care and personal development that can go beyond the four office walls of your organization. Include activities for your physical and mental well-being, maintain relationships with people inside and outside your company, and regularly engage in hobbies that interest you. Perhaps add a regular dose of knowledge-gathering in some form. Perhaps take a moment each day to meditate or relax. Systematically plan all those things that support you and make you most productive, honoring them as a customer gathering. These more personal aspects of your routine can give you the balance you crave and help ease your hectic entrepreneurial life.
Remember that routines aren’t just for the morning hours. How you end your day is also an important part of your routine. Don’t just let the day pass after 3 p.m. Take the time to evaluate, summarize and prepare yourself to slay the dragons of tomorrow.
Then make a habit of going home and hanging out with your family. End your day in a meaningful way, because that’s important too.
Related: 10 Bad Habits You Should Eliminate From Your Daily Routine
Adaptability is crucial
Disruptors always threaten your ability to maintain your daily routine as a business owner. From minor hiccups to monumental fires, it sometimes feels like the whole world is out to turn your well-crafted regimen upside down. While maintaining your routine is important, adaptability is essential. Start by prioritizing any problem that gets in the way of you respecting your routine. Is it critical enough to disrupt your schedule? Can someone else in your organization handle it? Is it a one-time event or a constant problem?
If you find that your routine is simply unsustainable, it’s time to adjust and create a new schedule that better fits the dynamics of your business.
Related: 3 Innate Traits You Need to Survive the Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship
Don’t do it all at once
You know what they say about Rome not being built in a day. The same goes for daily routines. When people recognize that they don’t have good daily routines and want to do something about it, they often get a little too ambitious. They insist on revising their entire schedule at once, which is almost certainly an approach doomed to failure.
Here’s a better approach. As you try to build routine into your schedule, identify the one area that you think holds you back the most or the area that has the best potential to help you the most, then develop a daily habit in this area and put you in for it. Once that’s settled, start working on the next obstacle or opportunity. And then the next.
And in no time you will achieve the structure and routine you are looking for.
