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I was flipping through old things and came across the below Fast Company magazine. The title piqued my interest and I found some golden insights I wanted to share.
Note: the only consistent theme is everyone has different habits that work for them. Find what works for you. Whether that means borrowing from others or inventing your own.
💡#1: Find Your Tranquil Think Space
“I shower, and that’s where a lot of my concepts come from. I write songs in there sometimes. If you don’t interrupt your subconscious with the ego, or are like, ‘no it’s gotta be like this’ then a lot of ideas will come. Once you start judging it and editing it, then you’re no longer tapped in. You’ve moved it over to your mind before you even realize it. So I spend a lot of that time just standing there in the water with a blank stare. It is often the reason why I’m tardy.” — Pharrell Williams 🛁 🎵
Where do you find yourself lost in deep thought?
Shower?
Nature?
Whatever it is, find it and wander.
💡#2: Create Operating Systems to Focus on the Big Decisions
“I eat the same thing every single day (apple, almonds, yogurt, salad) and I never sit still to eat a meal. My ultimate goal is to create operating systems for myself that allow me to think as little as possible about the silly decisions you can make all day long — like what to eat or where we should meet — so I can focus on making real decisions. Because mental energy is a finite quantity. You can only spend so much time on the really critical decisions that move your company forward.” — Alexa von Tobel (Founder & former CEO of LearnVest) ⏱️ ⚙️
This framework works for me.
During the weekday, I wear the same clothes and eat the same breakfast and lunch.
Think of it as energy reservation.
💡#3: Find Your Killer Morning Routine
“I wake up early…I try and get done as much as I can before noon. Any notes on editing for the show, or editing a manuscript, or any important conversations—those are best done in the morning. I’m at my most productive before I even have my first cup of coffee. I only get slower and stupider as the day progresses.” — Anthony Bourdain 🌅
“I make sure I find time to pray in the morning. It puts me in the right frame of mind to make sure my decisions are based on all those around me, as opposed to what I think or want at the moment.” — David Robinson (Former Center for the San Antonio Spurs, NBA Hall of Fame Class of 2009) 🙏
Regardless if you wake up at 5am or 12pm, kickstarting your day with a killer morning routine is a force multiplier.
My routine includes:
Meditation
Full body stretch
Workout (alternate between cardio and weights/resistance training)
Run with the dog
Breath-work
Bonus Content: If you found this insightful, you will also like these posts:
🔥 Fireside Chat: Smart People Podcast Creators -- Chris & Jon
💬 Q&A: Grace Gong (Founder & Host of the Smart Venture Podcast)
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