Every day, we have decisions to make. These decisions, compounded over time, ultimately determine where we end up. This is true with business, money, relationships, health, and so on.
Success (or lack of) is usually not a one-time big decision. It is the combination of many small decisions, made consistently, over time.
But there are two decisions, every day, that I know determine whether I’m successful or not:
- What I read
- Who I spend my time with
Our mind is very teachable – good or bad! This means we must protect what we put into it. I can read or watch the daily news and begin to feel bitter and fearful of the world around me. Or, I can read books like the ones on my desk right now:
- The Laws of Lifetime Growth (Dan Sullivan)
- The 10 New Golden Rules of Customer Service (Todd Duncan)
- Principles (Ray Dalio)
- Developing the Leader Within You (John Maxwell)
- Becoming a Coaching Leader (Daniel Harkavy)
As far as relationships, I learned long ago that we become the average of the five to ten people we spend the most time with. So, spending time with people focused on good health, being a good spouse or parent, and managing their money well, increases my chances greatly of being successful in those same areas of my life. It works the other way too, unfortunately. Spending time with people who consistently make unhealthy decisions can hold me back from becoming the best ‘me’ I can be.
As you look ahead to a New Year, pay close attention to these two important decisions you must make every day. They mean everything.