Your version of uncommon success is just that: yours. It will look different than my version, and from your closest friend’s version, and from your grandmother’s version.
The beautiful thing is, there’s a common roadmap that can help you uncover not only what your version of uncommon success is, but also how to get there.
John spent the better part of 2020 writing that roadmap for you. It’s called The Common Path to Uncommon Success.
But this post is not about the 17 step guide that he so eloquently lays out for you in the book; it’s about what awaits you once you’ve completed that guide.
Finding Alignment in Business and Life
Alignment is a word I’ve been sticking close to over the past couple of years. I realize that all too often we say we want one thing, but then we take actions that are not in alignment with what we say is most important to us.
It just doesn’t make sense.
So today, I want to focus on two things:
- What your version of uncommon success looks like, and
- Making sure your daily actions are in alignment with that
If what we’re doing on a daily basis isn’t getting us closer to our true north – to our ultimate version of financial freedom and fulfillment – then what’s the point?
Alright, so now that we’re on the same page about your version of uncommon success being yours – meaning, unique to you – let’s looks at a couple of exercises you can do to start envisioning what that looks like.
Then we’ll talk about some critical daily habits that can help get you there.
Creating Your Version of Uncommon Success
Creating your version of uncommon success starts with a vision. Since vision boards aren’t for everyone, you can get started with that vision in whatever way feels most comfortable to you.
Start with a Vision
What does your perfect day look like? Ask yourself questions like “Who am I with?” and “What am I doing hour by hour throughout the day?”
You can (and should) get very detailed here. Dig deeper and really create this vision for yourself:
- Where are you?
- What sounds are around you?
- Who are you with?
- What are you working on?
- What do your surroundings look like?
Once you have a clear vision of what uncommon success means to you, it’s time to attach goals to each individual priority.
Attach Goals to Your Priority
Let’s say your version of uncommon success included months of traveling the globe. If that’s the case, then what goals must you reach in order to make that possible?
Perhaps you need to figure out how you’re going to set the time aside to travel.
Maybe you have financial goals that need to be met in order to travel for months at a time.
In order to travel for months, you have to know where you’re going – at least in the beginning.
Start attaching goals to the necessary milestones you must reach in order to make your version of uncommon success possible.
Now that you have a vision and know what’s most important to you in your version of uncommon success – and you’ve attached goals to each individual priority – it’s time to work backwards.
Work Backwards to Find Your Starting Point
We’ve already started doing this to some degree by figuring out what goals we have to hit in order to accomplish each priority that makes up our version of uncommon success.
Now it’s time to get specific. If it’s your goal to have $25,000 in the bank to dedicate to travel, how are you going to make that $25,000? Perhaps you need to launch a new product or service, or create a budget to help you start saving more.
To get to your version of uncommon success, you’ll find yourself planning out multiple goals, each of which will have plenty of milestones and sub-tasks associated with them.
Don’t get overwhelmed! Uncommon success doesn’t happen overnight, and this journey you’re on towards discovering and achieving uncommon success should be fun! Remember: one step at a time.
At this point, you should have a very clear vision and a somewhat hashed out plan for actually accomplishing your version of uncommon success:
- You know what uncommon success looks like for you
- You know what goals you have to accomplish to get closer to your version of uncommon success
Now it’s time to ensure you have the correct daily habits in place so that when something unexpected comes up, or you have one of those days where you’re not feeling super motivated, you can still make progress towards achieving your goals, and ultimately the uncommon success you want to see in your life.
Critical Daily Habits to Help You Achieve Uncommon Success
1. Stay Focused
One of the most difficult habits to master is FOCUS.
There are any number of distractions or emergencies or unexpected things that come up in our lives every single day. You’re not alone in that.
However, those who are able to stay on track and accomplish their biggest goals – and achieve uncommon success – have found a way to make staying focused a core part of their daily habits.
If you find yourself battling distractions on a daily basis, start by identifying what each of those distractions (or potential distractions) are.
Next, put a plan in place to remove those distractions before you dive into your work.
Third, every time you find yourself battling distractions, stop. Make a note of that distraction so you can face it head-on the next day and remove it before it takes over your agenda.
Finally, constantly be aware of your commitments and plan ahead in order to remove distractions whenever possible. For example, if you know your phone notifications are a distraction, leave your phone in another room during your focus sessions.
Want to learn more about becoming more productive, disciplined and focused on a day-to-day basis? I created an entire season of written content and audio episodes to help you start today!
2. Surround Yourself with Supportive People
Having support on your journey is absolutely necessary. If you aren’t being supported at home, then find a mastermind or online group where you can request support and share your wins and struggles.
If you try and go at this journey alone, it’s going to be a very long and difficult road. With proper support, you can do anything!
Having trouble finding your crew of supportive individuals who know exactly what you’re going through? You could start a mastermind of your own with friends and peers who are on the same path as you, or learn more about how to find a mastermind that already exists to join.
3. Implement a Morning and Evening Routine
Speaking of routines… having a morning and evening routine that helps bookend your day is incredibly helpful.
Your morning routine should be filled with things that give you happiness and energy. This will lead you into your work time feeling great. Tune in to this podcast episode I recorded for a full morning routine breakdown.
Your evening routine should be filled with things that help you feel accomplished, and that allow you to reflect on the things that went great during the day – and the things that didn’t go so great during the day.
It should also help you transition into “non-work mode”, which isn’t always easy.
In this podcast episode I share my evening routine. Tune in to both of these episodes and implement these bookends in your day starting today. I can assure you it will be incredibly helpful – even game-changing.
4. Stay in Tune with Your Health and Nutrition
This tip is from our friend Brittany over at Your Life Nutrition! Take it away, Brittany!
If you’re looking to achieve uncommon success, then you’ve gotta be thinking about your nutrition!
Putting the right foods in your body is essential for optimal performance, productivity, and energy during the day to get you through your long to-do list!
Here are my top 5 critical daily habits that you need to achieve uncommon success.
- Stay Hydrated Throughout The Day. This is the one thing that can literally make or break your energy for the day! Do you have a coffee drink in the morning, some soda at lunch, and some beer or wine with dinner? Fluids outside of water can contribute to a large amount of sugar and calories throughout the day, which can lead to weight gain, increased blood sugars, and potentially worsen diabetes or other health problems. When we are dehydrated, we will feel more sluggish, lack energy and even the motivation that we need to get through a busy day. The minimum water intake each day is 64oz, but I highly recommend that you try and bump up your intake to drink HALF OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT in water. For example: 150 lb person divided by 2 = 75oz water. Pro Tip: Get a new water bottle to help motivate you to drink more. Set alarms on your phone as a reminder to drink. Download a water tracking app on your phone, like Waterminder, while you build this new habit. Keep your water bottle nearby to keep yourself hydrated, and drink at least 8oz of water before coffee or caffeinated beverages!
- Make Time For Movement. Most of us are sitting most of the day in front of a screen for our jobs. But it is so key to try to get up during the day to work out, or even for 5 minutes of movement (like an “exercise snack!”) I try to go on a walk right after my lunch because walking after a meal can actually help improve your digestion and prevent G.I. distress. Not to mention it helps me get my steps in! Pro Tip: A lot of activity trackers will actually remind you in the last 10 minutes of an hour to get up and get moving. Instead of ignoring that alarm try and get up for at least five minutes every hour to keep the blood flowing, get your steps in, and keep you active throughout the day. Remember, even doing 5 or 10 minutes of an activity is better than nothing!
- Eat Foods That Give You Energy. As a Dietitian I get asked all the time, “Brittany what foods will give me energy throughout the day?!” The answer is our fiber-rich plants, like fruits & vegetables! These foods are jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which will help you feel energized and refreshed throughout the day! Try your best to include fruits and vegetables at all of your meals and snacks. This will also give you more fiber, which helps keep you full for longer; it’s one of the last things to be digested. It also helps keep you regular (with your bowel movements that is!) Swapping fruits and veggies for refined carbs (think chips, candy, and cookies) can help you naturally reduce foods that suck your energy! Pro Tip: Try an apple and peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter) for a snack, which will be sure to keep you more full and satisfied until your next meal!
- Be Sure To Take Your Vitamin Z’s. Starting off your day feeling totally fatigued is not the way you want to start your day. Not getting enough sleep can make you feel sluggish throughout the day, less focused on your work, less motivated to make healthy food choices, and can even lead to a lack of exercise during the day! Research shows that not getting enough sleep can affect your hunger hormones. Leptin (satiety/fullness hormone) decreases with sleep deprivation, which means you can end up feeling hungry all the time. When you sleep, Grehlin (hunger hormone) actually decreases since it takes less energy for your body to function while sleeping than it does when you are awake. So get your vitamin Z’s by getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night. This will help set you up to be your healthiest and most productive self! Pro Tip: Give yourself a bedtime so that you have a better idea of when to wind down and get to bed, helping you get more shut eye! And check out Shawn Stevenson’s Sleep Smarter book.
- Make An Eating Plan For The Day. By planning meals and snacks ahead, you can set yourself up for success. Preparing what you need for the day leads you to make healthier decisions ahead of time – before your day gets busy and you’re tempted to just run through the drive thru or order in. You will also spend less brain power trying to decide what to eat. Pro Tip: Need some meal prep ideas to get you started? If you don’t have time for breakfast in the morning, make these Easy Egg Muffins for meal prep! Or try utilizing your slow cooker with this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe. An easy sheet pan dinner is also a winner with this Sausage, Veggie & Potato Sheet Pan meal.
So Success Seekers, if you’re looking to achieve your version of uncommon success, try implementing these five simple – but life changing – habits!
Need support & accountability while you implement these healthy habits? Stay connected in our private Facebook group: Your Life Nutrition Goal Getters! You can ask for help, be supported by others working on their health and nutrition, and get tips from your favorite dietitian!
5. Give Yourself Space
Not every day is going to the best day. We all face challenges with scheduling and other commitments that we have with our families and friends. And honestly – sometimes things just don’t work out as planned.
Whether it’s a major pivot you end up having to make, a complete restart, or you were simply pushed off course and have to find your way back on track, we can all relate.
So give yourself space. And use that space to reflect. Is there any way for you to avoid making the same mistake, or having the same complications in the future? If so, what can you put in place right now to help prevent the same things from happening?
If not, realize that not every day is going to be the best day and commit to approaching your next project, to-do, and your entire journey with drive and positivity. Enjoy the journey!
Start Your Journey to Uncommon Success Today!
We hope these suggestions and steps will help you in starting your journey towards uncommon success today.
And if you’re looking for a complete guide that will help you every step of the way, be sure to check out John’s book The Common Path to Uncommon Success.
