The 'all or nothing' approach to self-improvement creates a fragile system. When one part fails (e.g., sleeping in), the feeling of total failure causes the person to abandon all new habits, turning ambitious goals into self-sabotage.
Leaders often sacrifice their health to set their team up for success. However, this leaves them physically and mentally depleted right when the team needs an active, focused leader. Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it's a prerequisite for sustained, effective leadership.
Sales professionals operate with a high cognitive load, like chess masters, so their primary asset is their mind. While exercise is important, the most significant performance gains come from prioritizing recovery and stress management, as sleep deprivation is their 'kryptonite.'
Instead of adopting a long list of popular 'good' habits, first choose a single guiding purpose. Then, identify the one or two habits that most directly support that purpose. This prevents overwhelm and focuses your limited energy on what truly matters for your core mission.
Saying you 'don't have time' positions you as a victim of circumstance. Saying you 'aren't prioritizing' it frames it as an active choice. This simple change in language reveals where your true priorities lie and forces accountability for your decisions.
Instead of just listing desired outcomes, also list the specific things you must give up (time, money, other activities) to achieve them. This 'sacrifice cost' forces a realistic assessment of whether you're truly willing to pay the price for the change, moving from a wish to a plan.
Treat your goal as a hypothesis and your actions as inputs. If you don't get the desired outcome, you haven't failed; you've just gathered data showing those inputs were wrong. This shifts the focus from emotional failure to analytical problem-solving about what to change next.