Where Are Your Habits Driving You?

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." — Jim Ryun

Effective habits get you there.

Where is there? Your goal or aspiration. Habits are not the destination. They are the vehicle propelling you from Point A to Point B. Choose them with care.

Motivation provides the momentum to start. Like an old car on a bitterly cold day, all you need is a little push to fire up the engine. Motivation provides that push. Habits take over from there.

Success is largely determined by your choice of habits. As Confucius says, "men's natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them." The secret to one person's success versus another person's failure lies largely in the habits they adopt.

The choice of vehicle matters. Choose an old jalopy and you'll have a bumpy, white-knuckled ride full of fits and starts. Choose a Ferrari and you'll have a smooth, rocket-like ride that melts away miles like butter.

Why do habits matter so much?

The answer lies in their nature. According to Frank Clark, "a habit is something you can do without thinking, which is why most of us have so many of them." Forty percent of your life is on cruise control thanks to habits.

If you succumb to ineffective habits, then you are on the fast track to a destination not of your choosing. If you consciously adopt effective habits, then you accelerate toward your dream destination.

The power of habits can work for or against you. The choice of vehicle is yours.

Food for Thought

What kind of vehicle powers you forward?

Do you consciously choose your habits or succumb to them?

Where are your habits taking you?

One Small Step

Are you tired of letting ineffective habits drive you away from what matters most? Take the first step of identifying those ineffective habits. Then replace them one by one with effective habits.