The #1 Secret To Success

I know, I know... it's a bold headline. And no, it's not just clickbait. Here's the #1 thing that can literally make all the difference in where you are and where you want to be.

I don't know how you define success. Is it money? A big house? A happy spouse? Kids in college? A great retirement package?

All those things are great, but I tend to define 'success' as 'learning to live out my full potential'. That may not have anything to do with money or a big house or other material things.

But it has everything to do with time. The hard fact is you can always make more money. But you can never make more time.

When I talk with someone about upgrading their productivity or their habits, I typically hear "Tom, I just don't have the time."

"But," I reply, "either you master the day or the day masters you, right? I mean, you only have 84,000 seconds in a day... and you spend 28,800 of them asleep. So when you first wake up in the morning, you better be intentional about the rest of them."

Let's face it, today is like a coin. You can spent it any way you want-- but you can only spend it once. Do you want to spend that coin on something that doesn't matter? Doesn't move you closer to what you're passionate about? Closer to what's really most important?

To put it in perspective, think of it this way: if you have a children, you only have about 18 summer vacations with them. You have 18 Christmas mornings to spend together. And you only have 12 opportunities to capture a 'first day of school' photo. Each day slips slowly by... and you'd better grab it with both hands!

One of the key elements of your own growth is to master your calendar. For instance, I put everything in the calendar on my phone (because I almost always have it with me...). Everything. I'm not even kidding.

Sure... all the normal things: Wake up. Exercise. Meeting times. Appointments. Lunch. Dinner appointments. Date nights. Blah, blah, blah. But... also all the other things that keep me productive and blasting through the day, too.

Here are just a few:

1. I set 3 gratitude alarms throughout the day (10am, 2pm, and 4:30pm) to remind me to get away from electronics, take 6-10 deep, cleansing breaths, and remember three things I'm grateful for.

2. I schedule block time every day to read something that inspires me and stretches me to grow (usually in the morning before 9am).

3. I calendar monthly Growth Day opportunities. (Seminar, Zoom meeting or conference, or even a face-to-face meeting over coffee with someone who I can learn from. And I take notes.)

4. I set bi-weekly recharge time with specific friends (usually 1-on-1) to reflect and vision cast.

5. I plan quarterly weekend retreats and stay-cations.

6. I set weekly creative block time that involves writing, recording music, or even playing in the yard with the dogs. (Yes... I put it on my calendar.)

7. I schedule post-event hibernation days to recharge and reflect after a big event or fundraiser.

And I'm fiercely protective over each of these things.

Why put these things on my calendar? Easy. So they get done. Otherwise, all of our best intentions to 'do it later' or 'start on it someday' will get washed away and it will never happen. Trust me. How many times have YOU wanted to do something but just never got around to it?

Once it's on your calendar, you're committed. And when the opportunity to back out comes up (a friend invites you out to lunch or over for drinks, or your just feeling lazy...) you can honestly say, "I'm sorry.... I'm already committed to something else."

Taking each of those baby steps helps produce massive results in getting you where you want to go. You have the same number of hours in the day as Beyoncé... and you can control your day, or it can control you.

Your choice.