The Battle For Your Better Self

At 4:00 a.m.

By Terry L. Brock

I love to wake up early and get a lot done. For me, a quality day starts with an “early to rise” beginning. I have a very healthy breakfast of fruit, some eggs and good Japanese green tea. I love to read a book then exercise followed by some time for quality quiet meditation and reflection.

When I go through that ideal routine for me, I have had a great day – no matter what happens the rest of the day. I’m often up at 4:00 am as I get more done that way. No, you don’t have to get up at 4:00 but whenever you awake, these same principles will help you – in your personal life and business.

Succeeding in your business today draws parallels from personal success. This week, let’s discuss some of the personal procedures you can use and see how they might apply to your business. The similarities are uncanny.

However, there’re is a challenge. There’s a battle that goes on for me almost every morning. You can probably relate to this.

The warm bed is very inviting. It calls, “Come back and catch a few extra winks. Besides, you could use the rest.” Have you heard your bed calling to you like that early in the morning? Although it is very inviting and tempting, I find that when I resist the temptation for a few more winks, and force myself into what always turns into a glorious beginning for the day, I am grateful.

You are faced with similar challenges. You have the tempting allure of the warm and cozy, the secure, vs. what you know is going to be more of a challenge—-and much more worth it for you. You know what is best, but the temptation of the moment pulls you from your ultimate best. Building relationships in business takes time, money and effort. To do it right, you have to focus on the benefits of “waking up” (however you define that activity) to make your business work.

So, how can you fight the temptation to slack off and instead become the best you can be? Here are some pointers that can help you first in your personal life getting more done, followed by some serious business benefits that you can realize.

1. Have A Strong Vision Of What You Want. The stronger the vision of success (reading that great book, having a great workout, etc.) will give you the necessary motivation to get the right thing done for you. Know the business relationship goals that you have in mind. Let these be burned into your mind to achieve them.

2. Push Past The Pain. You have to push past the inevitable pain that will be there early-on and see the victory. Business relationships can sometimes be painful. You have to look at the situation from the other person’s point of view. What is the pain your prospect or customer is facing? How can you solve that?

3. Do Something To Motivate Yourself. Set your alarm clock (safely) on the other side of the room where it will be a noisy, loud annoyance until you physically get up and turn it off. Then, make it difficult to go back to sleep. For business relationships, put yourself in a situation where you can serve that potential customer. Make it a situation where you have to stretch to be your best.

4. Drink A Lot Of Water Before Going To Bed. Amazing what a full bladder will do for getting you moving in the morning! In business, promise someone you’ll do something that you know you’ll have to accomplish. The promise you make can push you along the right track!

5. Provide Some Serious Benefits. Have a choice, wonderful, delicious book waiting for you to read. Have an invigorating workout. You then prove to yourself (and that tempting “Come back to bed” voice in your head) that you really have something even better waiting. In business, see the benefits of cultivating and growing new, profitable relationships. These business benefits will serve as inspiration and motivation when the going gets tough.

Bonus: Figure out a way to get a medically-recommended and healthy nap in the afternoon. A quick 30 minute or less nap can yield wonderful health benefits. It is another “thought blast” you can throw at the deceptively alluring calls to return to the warm bed. “I’ll get up now, read that good book, have a great workout and great meditation and then I can catch a quick nap later this afternoon.” If your work schedule doesn’t yet allow for an afternoon nap right now, see if you can alter your personal schedule to allow for this energy-giving and life extending addition.

For business, build in “resting points” along the way in a relationship. Don’t always push for the business. Take time to focus on the human connection. Include social outings, anniversaries and other fun times to let the business relationships incubate and grow.

You might not get up at 4:00— most rational people don’t! However, whatever your “4:00 o’clock in the morning” challenge is, build in sufficient motivations before 4:00 to blast away the common “excuses” your brain will concoct. Your better self will appreciate it and you’ll be a better person because of it.

Terry Brock is a marketing coach and regular columnist for Biz Journals who helps businesses market more effectively leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. He can be reached at 407-363-0505, by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.

Copyright © 2007, Terry Brock, All Rights Reserved Internationally. No portion may be reprinted or used in any way without prior written permission. Permission granted to Business Journals to use in regular publications.