Last week I told how my son persuaded me to experience a car show where I talked to some of the exhibiters about what it takes to rebuild a car similar to the pictures you saw in my previous post. I gave four principles last time, but I want to expand on one of them in this post.
At one exhibit I was talking to the man who did all the work to rebuild one of the cars. As I said before, these cars often start out as rusty and quite rotten, but they transform them into a beautiful classic worthy of a showroom floor. I asked the man, how long does this take? I found his reply very pertinent to what I need to do in order to lead well at work and home. He said “I do a little bit everyday no matter what.”
After he said this it made me pause and think for a minute. No matter what industry we are in or what goal we are pursuing this principle is profoundly true. Our daily habits and disciplines determine the results we get. This man took a little time every day to do something on the car and eventually after a couple years turned it into what you see above. Do you want to lead better at work or home? What daily habits do you perform to help you get to your goal?
Time to Think – Create time and space to think in your day. I know we are all busy, but what if instead of scrolling through social media on our phones when we are waiting we allow ourselves to think freely. Who knows we may gain a new insight Facebook or Twitter may not have brought to mind. Block out a specific amount of time to intentionally think into your personal and professional growth.
Time to Read – I have heard it said that readers are leaders. Do you create time in your schedule to read books or other material that is mind expanding? Find out some of the books high level leaders read and get them in your hands to read and absorb. As a start authors like Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni, Steven Covey, and John Maxwell are a few that have helped expand my thinking not to mention classics like Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale. Create the time, maybe just fifteen or twenty minutes while walking on a treadmill or some type of audio while driving.
Time to Listen – I am a doer and I have to intentionally create time to stop and listen to those who matter most. I may ask my wife or co-worker how they are doing, but do I have the habit of stopping to listen? If you are like me you may need to create the habit of intentionally slowing down to not just hear what others are saying, but actively listen.
Time to Do – We are all busy, but are we productive? Take time to evaluate what you are doing and make sure it creates the habits that will get you to your goal. Do you do the important, but not urgent activities that will give you more sales, develop leaders, build your relationships with those you love? Evaluate what you do so the seeds of activity become productive fruit.
Think through your habits today and decide if there is one you need to change, remove or add. You don’t have to do it all at once. A cathedral is built one brick at a time similarly a transformed life will be built one habit at a time. What transformational habit do you need to begin today?
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