My 12 Principle Approach to Success

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 It all starts with the way you care for your mind and body. If you neglect these two, then none of the items below matter. In fact, you won't even get very far without a healthy body and a sharp, resilient brain.

Your brain is the powerhouse that drives your thoughts, decisions, and actions. Just like a well-oiled machine, it needs proper maintenance and nourishment to function at its best. This includes getting enough rest, engaging in mental exercises, and feeding it with nutritious foods that support cognitive function.

Without a healthy body and a sharp brain, achieving your goals and navigating life's challenges can become significantly more difficult. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being lays the foundation for success in all areas of life.

How you start your day will set the tone for the rest of it. First off, do you make your bed? That simple act will go a long way in creating massive momentum for the rest of your day. On the other hand, if you start your day without even doing your bed, it is a signal that your are not serious about what is to come and your brain will not care much. 

If you are not a morning person, you may look into the huge benefits of waking up at least 2 hours before your usual wakeup time and work on your personal projects and tasks. For example, I wake up around 6:15 AM and that gives me at least 2 hours of quiet productive time, which I use to exercise (home GYM), read, journal and work on different projects on the computer. This has been huge and I don't know how I wasted so many years waking up shorty before work starts, not allowing me anytime for my personal stuff. 

1. Drink a Full Glass of Water: Hydrating your body after a night of rest is crucial for kickstarting your metabolism and replenishing lost fluids. It's a refreshing way to wake up and prepare your body for the day ahead.
2. Get Sunlight Exposure: Exposure to natural light, especially in the morning, can help regulate your circadian rhythm and boost your mood. Sunlight exposure also stimulates the production of serotonin, which contributes to a sense of well-being.
3. Move Your Body: Engaging in physical movement, whether it's stretching, yoga, or a short walk, helps increase blood flow, oxygenates your muscles, and releases feel-good endorphins. It's an invigorating way to wake up both your body and mind.

 Incorporating these three actions into your morning routine can set a positive tone for the day, leaving you feeling more energized, focused, and ready to tackle whatever comes your way. 

Reading is a powerful tool for personal development, offering a pathway to growth and transformation. From a young age, I immersed myself in books, discovering the profound impact of reading on self-improvement.

Through books, we gain access to a wealth of knowledge and wisdom accumulated over centuries. Whether exploring psychology, philosophy, or success literature, each page holds insights that can shape our understanding of ourselves and the world. Reading fosters critical thinking, expands our perspectives, and challenges us to reflect on our beliefs and aspirations.

One of the greatest benefits of reading for personal development is its ability to inspire and motivate. Books on self-help and personal growth offer practical strategies for goal-setting, resilience, and overcoming challenges. They provide a roadmap for success and empower us to take meaningful action towards our aspirations.

Moreover, reading cultivates empathy and emotional intelligence. As we immerse ourselves in stories and experiences, we develop a deeper understanding of human nature and relationships. This empathy translates into improved communication skills, better conflict resolution, and enhanced interpersonal connections.

For those on a journey of personal development, reading is a companion that offers solace, guidance, and inspiration. It encourages continuous learning and self-reflection, guiding us towards a more fulfilled and purposeful life. As we absorb the lessons from books and apply them to our own experiences, we embark on a transformative journey of growth and self-discovery.

In essence, reading is not just a hobby but a cornerstone of personal development. It equips us with the tools needed to navigate life's challenges, pursue our dreams, and cultivate resilience. Let books be your mentors, guiding you towards a more empowered and enlightened version of yourself.

While I only started journaling in my 20s, just like reading, it has been such a transformative experience. There is simply something magical about expressing your ideas with a pen and a paper. It almost imprints the idea into your brain and your brain then takes action. In other words, try to write any idea, goal or project you are working towards, on a daily basis. This will signal your intentions to your brain and that will turn will put the work for you. 

Furthermore,  through the act of writing, we gain clarity, insight, and perspective on our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Keeping a journal provides a safe space to express our innermost feelings and aspirations. By putting our thoughts onto paper, we untangle complex emotions, identify patterns, and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.

One of the key benefits of journaling is its therapeutic nature. Writing can be cathartic, helping us process stress, anxiety, and past experiences. It serves as a tool for emotional release and healing.

 I still remember the first time I learned about visualization—it was such a fascinating discovery. I wondered why more people don't use it to accomplish or improve things. At its core, visualization is the act of imagining how you want things to turn out before you've actually engaged in them in real life.

For instance, if you want to excel in your upcoming SAT test, you can start by vividly visualizing the entire process in your mind. It's crucial to be as specific as possible in your visualization, engaging all your senses. Picture waking up on the day of the test, looking out the window to check the weather, enjoying a light breakfast, and savoring the aroma of coffee on your way to school. Imagine walking confidently into the classroom, feeling a bit nervous but overall prepared. You get the idea.

But why does visualization work? Is there a scientific explanation behind it? Absolutely! Here's the interesting part:  Scientifically speaking, visualization activates the brain's neural networks associated with performing the imagined task. This process strengthens neural connections related to the skill or activity you're visualizing, essentially "training" your brain to perform better when faced with the real situation. Studies suggest that consistent visualization can enhance motivation, confidence, and performance by priming the brain for success.  More importantly, our brains can't tell the difference between an 'imagined' experience and a  real one. When you vividly visualize an activity or outcome, the brain interprets this as a rehearsal. This triggers the same neural patterns and processes as if you were actually doing it.

For example, when you visualize yourself acing the SAT, your brain activates regions associated with problem-solving, memory recall, and confidence. This mental rehearsal helps build familiarity and confidence, making the real test less daunting.

Accomplishing your goals becomes more achievable when you're specific about them and take the time to write them down. Are you familiar with the SMART framework? SMART stands for:

• Specific: Goals should be clear and well-defined. 
• Measurable: Goals should be quantifiable and include specific criteria for measuring progress.
• Achievable: Goals should be realistic and attainable given available resources and circumstances.
• Relevant: Goals should be aligned with overall objectives and relevant to the individual or organization.
• Time-bound: Goals should have a defined timeline or deadline for completion. 

Using the framework above, start by thinking and writing two or three of your immediate, most urgent or ambitious goals. Using a matrix format, go over each of the element of the framework above and ensure it applies, and if doesn't, take the time to make it applicable.  See sample example here. 

Momentum in life refers to making consistent progress toward your goals. When you take positive actions and see results, it builds momentum. This can be likened to a snowball effect, where small successes pave the way for larger ones. To elevate your life and business, you must create positive wins and then let momentum take over. Always answer the door when 'Mr. Mo' comes knocking.

Conversely, momentum can work negatively. If you find yourself facing one disappointment or loss after another, it's crucial to intervene and reverse this trend. Personally, I've harnessed momentum to my advantage for a long time.  Never interrupt positive momentum that is working in your benefit. Ride it out until it dies out on its own, which may never come and that is a great thing. 

You might ask, "How can I create momentum?" As mentioned earlier, you create it yourself. Start by achieving one positive event or win each day. For instance, begin by making your bed, followed by a workout, some reading, and journaling. These actions trigger positive energy, setting off a chain reaction where subsequent tasks become easier. That's the magic of momentum—ignite the first few sparks, and the rest will follow naturally.

Affirmations are short phrases or sentences you repeat to yourself, usually in your head or out loud, to help plant an idea into your subconscious until it becomes second nature. But let us clarify some things. This doesn't mean you should blindly repeat things that are not true and hope they become a reality. For example, if you are a 35-year-old man, 5'7" in height, and think that by affirming the phrase "I am a great NBA player and will win the championship this year," it will somehow make it true.  Affirmations need to be for something realistic and not impossible. Better yet, they are best used to improve something you are already working on, or struggling with. It is like a boost of confidence to trick your brain into thinking it is already good at this, and then let momentum and your subconscious do the heavy lifting. 

For example, let us say you need to do public speaking as part of your job but dread it and don't enjoy it. Then it would help to use affirmations—while practicing your public speaking—to make you a better speaker. By constantly affirming to yourself that you are a good public speaker, you are effectively building your confidence and reinforcing positive beliefs, which can improve your performance and reduce anxiety over time.

Important to note that affirmations mixed with emotions are a lot more powerful. This is because emotions add intensity and conviction to your affirmations, making them more convincing to your subconscious mind. For example, if you repeat, "I am a confident and engaging public speaker," while feeling excited and passionate about the idea, you are more likely to internalize this belief and see real improvements in your public speaking skills.

It may not seem obvious to some, but money management goes hand in hand with personal development. You can't have a better version of you if you don't know how to handle, manage or budget your money.  Effective financial stewardship is the bedrock upon which personal growth is built. It empowers you to make choices that align with your values and goals, rather than being driven by economic necessity. By mastering the art of budgeting and money management, you pave the way for a future where financial worries don’t hinder your potential for success. Remember, the journey to self-improvement isn’t just about personal achievements; it’s also about gaining the financial wisdom to support and sustain those achievements.  As part of my passion and side hobbies, I write about budgeting, personal finance and the pursuit of wealth on my other website: check it out at www.BudgetSense.ca : tell them (myself) that I (myself) sent you! 

Since the introduction of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022, the world has been abuzz with AI chatter. Since then, AI has become an integral part of many businesses and individuals’ day-to-day lives and operations. In your personal development journey and road to success, there is no avoiding AI. In fact, it’s not so much about avoiding it as it is about leveraging it to make your life easier, and frankly, more fun. It certainly has made things more enjoyable for me. I take great pleasure in using the various AI tools available, as they streamline tasks that would previously take hours or days, thus freeing me up to take on other projects and tasks. How can that not put a smile on my face?

Broadly speaking, I use a combination of AI tools and don’t limit myself to just one. In terms of chatbots and language models, I use both Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. I find that using more than one gives me more options, but it is perfectly fine if you are using them for basic tasks such as writing, brainstorming, summarizing information, and even generating creative text formats. Get familiar with the tools, download their related apps on your phone, and most importantly, interact with these tools as you would with another human, using a conversational tone. In fact, some of my most creative and productive sessions with these tools were when I had a conversation-like interaction with them, where I would go back and forth with the tool to get the answers I need for my task or project at hand.

 Have you heard the adage: Warren Buffett, now in his 90s, would likely trade one billion dollars for each extra year he can get on this earth? Well, to be frank, I came up with that, but Buffett would likely take this deal. As we get older, we get wiser and probably richer, but we also get poorer in time (this would make a good riddle). The older you get, the more precious your time becomes, since you will have less and less of it. With this being the case, it is vitally important, especially in the context of personal development, success, and goal setting, to have a proper time management approach and system in place. 

There are various ways to organize your time and ensure you are wasting as little of it as possible. Using a personal calendar is one great way to do so. By planning your day, week, or month ahead, you can ensure that important tasks and projects take priority.

For me personally, I have found the 80/20 rule (also known as the Pareto Principle) to be very effective for time management and getting the most out of every minute in your day. So what is this principle? the rule suggests that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. By identifying and focusing on the most productive tasks or activities, you can achieve more significant outcomes with less effort.  Example: If you're working on multiple projects, you might find that two out of ten tasks contribute to 80% of your progress. By prioritizing these high-impact tasks, you can optimize your productivity and achieve better results in less time.

 And last but not least, this is certainly one I am trying to apply and learn more about! Prioritizing holistic health practices—including physical fitness, nutrition, sleep hygiene, and mental health care—is essential to sustaining energy and overall well-being. Mindfulness is the simple yet powerful act of being present in the moment, fully aware of your thoughts, senses, and, most importantly, your breathing.

Why is this important for our health, personal development, and state of mind? Because mindfulness helps us reduce stress, enhance focus, and foster emotional resilience. It allows us to step back from the chaos of daily life, reconnect with ourselves, and cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace.

In a world that often pulls our attention in countless directions, mindfulness and meditation provide the grounding we need to thrive—not just survive.