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  • How to Push Your Limits and Achieve Greatness | Entrepreneur

    How to Push Your Limits and Achieve Greatness | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In his installation pieces, artist Michael Murphy translates renderings of flat, 2D images into three-dimensional spaces. The viewer who sees the image of an eye, for example, would totally disagree with the person viewing the same piece of art from any other perspective. In fact, leave the single spot where Murphy’s eye is visible, and the image suddenly explodes into a galaxy of floating wooden balls. Depending on which perspective you see it from or which position in the room you’re standing in, you could have an infinite number of ways to describe what one viewer so clearly saw as an eye.

    This is what we do every day with the world around us. Think of how many descriptions we use to try and define people — height, weight, hair color, DNA coding — but we could never possibly identify every single dimension of their being. There could always be another way to describe them. The closest we could ever come would always be at least one dimension less. This demonstrates the limit of our perspectives but also offers unlimited possibilities for us to continue our exploration and imagination. In the same way, we could never imagine every possible approach to problem-solving, goal-setting and our own self-betterment. Everything in life is limitless — perspectives, solutions and room for improvement — but we define the quality of our lives by how much we push those limits.

    Related: 6 Ways to Push Your Limits and Accomplish Things You Never Thought Possible

    There are no limits

    When I attempt to solve a problem, I approach it with three principles in mind. The first is an understanding of the incompleteness of all perspectives. If viewers of Murphy’s eye were to reconstruct what they saw depending on where they stood, and we were to combine those limited perspectives into one, even if that limit included everyone on this planet, we would still be able to find another perspective and a different view. This is related to the diverging nature of brainstorming.

    The second principle allows each perspective to have any opportunity to be heard and reviewed. Each perspective is equally valid depending on the situation in which it was generated, meaning we can respect all opinions without bias. That is, however, until we confront a problem that needs to be solved, which presents the third principle — a break in that symmetry of perspectives. This is related to the converging nature of problem-solving. When facing the problem of naming his work, for example, Murphy could have brainstormed limitless solutions, but his goal was to narrow the viewer’s focus onto the same concern as his: government tracking and its watchful reach into people’s personal lives. Naming his work “Perceptual Shift” brings them closer to seeing his perspective — that many may not see the watchful eye unless they shift their perspective.

    Just like the infinite number of perspectives to view his art, there were an infinite number of solutions he could have devised to name his art. But he had to narrow down his own divergent perspectives to the best possible one at that time. Even still, there could be a better name to serve his purpose more effectively if he examined the problem from one more dimension; yet another limitless pool of opportunity.

    Related: 7 Essentials for Overcoming Mental Barriers to Exceptional Success

    Pushing our limits to reach new heights

    In the same way that solutions to problems are limitless, there is a limitless amount of data available to help us improve. It would be impossible to brainstorm an exhaustive list of all the room for improvement because there can always be one more idea. The two-dimensional ways we can approach our three-dimensional world are endless to the Nth degree: There is always an N+1 to be found.

    Of course, we all know there are physical limits to what the human body can do. Those who break those physical limits set world records until someone else comes along to push them even further. This is what separates elite athletes from average sports players — they push their limits to be the best in the world at what they do by practicing their skills every day.

    I try to encourage my son to take this same perspective as a hockey goalie every time he lets in a goal. I tell him to reflect on each one — the angle, direction, speed and player’s movements. Even though he could never possibly come up with an exhaustive list of all dimensions for improvement, by brainstorming as many as he can conceive, he can identify infinitely more ways to protect the goal better. With hindsight, we can always learn from our mistakes and identify what works and what doesn’t to find a better solution. Leaders can apply this to their own problem-solving and encourage the same mindset in the members of their team.

    Related: 4 Steps to Breaking Free from Time Constraints and Living the Life You Want

    It’s all part of the game

    Of course, I also remind my son not to dwell on those goals he lets in. It’s a natural part of the game. Sometimes, letting in goals could be a simple matter of bad luck, just as allowing no goals involves a certain amount of positive luck. Tapping into our limitless room for improvement is our small effort to control how we reduce that unlucky probability. The best goalies become the best and let in fewer goals because they use every allowed goal as a learning opportunity to prevent the next one.

    In the same way, failure is a vital part of achieving success when we use those experiences to better ourselves and fine-tune our skills. The best way of doing something today might not be the best way of doing it tomorrow. Stay open to the limitlessness of improvement. Let nothing be “too outrageous” or determine “it won’t work” before allowing it to exist as an option. Brainstorm as many ideas as possible and narrow them down to the best solution, knowing there could always be a better way and always aiming to find it.

    Each time we go back to square one and brainstorm another list of solutions to find this extra dimension, we come up with answers we haven’t tried before to accomplish our goals better. Understanding the limitlessness of problem-solving as an opportunity for improvement is how we grow. The framework of these principles is universal and applicable to any scenario, from becoming a better hockey player to leading a business for better performance and everything else in between.

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    Simin Cai, Ph.D.

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  • Remote Workers Are Still Relocating — Here’s Where | Entrepreneur

    Remote Workers Are Still Relocating — Here’s Where | Entrepreneur

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    Since the start of the pandemic, remote work has increasingly given many Americans the freedom to choose where they want to live — regardless of its proximity to a physical office.

    And some of them are still leaving bigger cities behind. According to a survey from review crowdsourcer Yelp, which examined three years of internal data on its own fully remote workforce, the number of employees living near its office locations saw a steep drop from 2019 to 2022, Bloomberg reported.

    Related: 50 Work-From-Home Jobs that Pay As Much or More Than the Average Salary

    As of 2022, many U.S. remote workers weren’t working from home out of necessity but because they preferred it (76% compared to 60% in 2020), and nearly 20% said they were working remotely because they’d relocated, per a Pew Research Center study.

    In the case of Yelp’s workforce, many employees are leaving large, expensive cities. The number of workers living near the company’s San Francisco headquarters fell by 70%, and the number of those living near offices in New York, Washington DC and Chicago dropped by 67%.

    During that same period, the number of Yelp employees residing in Florida and Texas increased four times over.

    Related: Survey Reveals 4 Transformational Remote Work Trends

    “Many of the employees we’ve spoken with moved away from former office locations to areas with a lower cost of living, with some individuals purchasing their first home or enjoying a slower pace of life,” said Carmen Whitney Orr, the company’s chief people officer.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Yes, You Are More Productive in the Morning. Here’s Why. | Entrepreneur

    Yes, You Are More Productive in the Morning. Here’s Why. | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    What is more important to you: sleeping in and starting your workday later or waking up earlier and completing all your tasks? My guess is that you have already figured out whether you are a morning person or a night person by now. However, the secret to success for many people in business, sports, and art is to get up early.

    For example, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson starts every day at 3:30 a.m., Apple, Tim Cook, rises at 3:45 a.m., Ellevest CEO and co-founder Sallie Krawcheck gets up at 4 a.m. In addition to Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Indra Nooyi, have been known to rise before sunrise.

    The founding editor of mymorningroutine.com, Benjamin Spall, has interviewed hundreds of successful figures about their morning routines. “It’s not a coincidence that all of these people these people have routines,” he tells CNBC Make It.

    But why exactly are they so productive in the morning? Well, let’s find out.

    Related: After Getting Up at 5 a.m. Every Day for a Month, I’m Less Stressed, More Productive, and Generally Happier

    1. Mental health is better among early risers.

    Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are less common among morning larks. Why? According to experts, it’s all about sleep patterns and natural light.

    Additionally, vitamin D has been shown to enhance mood. So it’s no wonder the larks are happier in the morning.

    Sure, daylight boosts vitamin D production, making larks more productive. However, for early risers, it is also the feeling of having the entire day ahead to accomplish whatever we had planned in advance.

    Related: 10 Morning Routine Hacks for Happiness and Productivity

    2. They tend to be more proactive.

    According to Christoph Randler, a biology professor at the University of Education in Heidelberg, Germany, early birds do better in business.

    “When it comes to business success, morning people hold the important cards,” Randler told the Harvard Business Review of his research, first published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. “[T]hey tend to get better grades in school, which gets them into better colleges, which then leads to better job opportunities. Morning people also anticipate problems and try to minimize them. They’re proactive.”

    The reason this makes sense is that, in theory, early in the morning is when your brain is rested, your motivation is high, and you’re less distracted. While a person’s creativity is strongest at night, his or her productivity is strongest in the morning. It is possible that this is the reason why morning people tend to be promoted and win high-level jobs.

    3. There is a greater level of physical activity among them.

    Early birds are more likely to pick up hobbies that require moving around more during the day, as they have plenty of time to do so. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing sports, taking long walks, or commuting to work. Exercise relieves stress, gives our brains a break, improves focus, and just makes us feel better. As we get more satisfied, we’re more willing to take on challenges, which leads to an increase in productivity.

    Researchers, however, suggest that morning larks aren’t necessarily predisposed to be better at physical activity. The problem is also related to the fact that night owls don’t have enough opportunities to exercise between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. when their energy peaks. In the evenings, for instance, outdoor activities become increasingly limited. This is another example of how nature is designed to benefit early risers.

    4. The early birds eat healthier.

    Obviously, early birds are no different from those who eat junk food later in the day. Yeah, I’m the first to admit that I can’t resist the occasional pizza. When it comes to heavy foods at night, however, I usually refrain from eating them. The reason? I don’t want my stomach to digest all night since I’m going to bed soon. As a result, I’ll probably have a sleepless night.

    It has been observed that diet choices are less favorable for night owls. When working at night, their energy levels can fluctuate wildly. To stay up and running, the body requires more fuel, which leads to unhealthy snacking or drinking. In the case of larks, this isn’t a problem, since they sleep all night long.

    5. Drug abuse and bad habits are less likely to occur in them.

    Although evening types are often ill-mannered and drug-dependent, that does not imply they are always badly behaved. There is actually more creativity and intelligence among night owls.

    However, early birds usually go to bed before 11 p.m. This makes them less vulnerable than night people to bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, and cheating.

    There is evidence to support this assertion in a number of studies. Researchers found that those with evening work schedules consumed more alcohol than those with morning work schedules, based on a study of 537 individuals. According to data from a Finnish Twin Cohort of 676 adults, nighttime people are much more likely to smoke, less likely to quit, and more likely to develop nicotine dependence than morning people.

    Due to the nightlife’s conduciveness to drinking and infidelity, these findings are not entirely surprising.

    6. They are conscientious, less showy, and more agreeable

    Continuing from the previous point, drinking and smoking more are associated with the trait psychologists call “novelty seeking,” or NS.

    According to PhyscologyToday, NS is “a personality trait associated with an exploratory activity where someone seeks new and exciting stimulation and responds strongly from the surge of dopamine and adrenaline released when anyone has a novel experience.”

    There have been numerous studies linking night people with this “novelty-seeking” behavior. In addition, Randler and a colleague also examined the relationship between morningness and eveningness and temperament in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. As far as rewards are concerned, evening types tend to be extravagant in their approach.

    In general, morning people are more conscientious and less showy, which makes them more agreeable. Though not always helpful, agreeableness can help in the pursuit of success.

    7. They have more time, clarity, and control.

    Did you know that waking up just one hour earlier each morning would give you 15 additional days a year if you maintain your normal sleep pattern? Consequently, it is no secret that many successful people wake up early in order to have uninterrupted time to do their own thing.

    Getting up early helps you get organized, think strategically, and plan. Additionally, many early risers report being more creative and inspired in the mornings.

    The hours between 5 and 6 a.m. aren’t when most people are awake. As a result, it’s a terrific opportunity to work for yourself rather than for others. Moreover, you won’t be distracted by texts, emails, or phone calls since social media has been halted. In the early morning, everything is quiet, and the world is at a standstill, giving you time to yourself. In the morning, productive people exercise, read, have breakfast, and map out their day. And it’s also likely that you will encounter fewer distractions from your colleagues if you arrive first.

    8. They procrastinate less.

    According to a 1997 study authored by delay researcher Joseph Ferrari at DePaul, trait procrastinators call themselves “night people.” According to Ferrari, procrastinating behaviors are associated with an evening preference. Based on six days of daily task records, it was found that evening people tend to be worse procrastinators.

    An investigation of procrastination was conducted in 2008 by a research team that included Ferrari and reported in the Journal of General Psychology. They examined 50-year-old adults this time. It turned out that the earlier study was accurate. People who spend the night avoid tasks that need to be completed more often.

    Research suggests that putting off tasks until nighttime may cost night people career success if they tend to delay tasks until the “last minute” before a deadline. This is particularly true at jobs requiring or requiring strong work ethics during the daytime.

    9. Early birds rule the world.

    The majority of stores, gyms, clinics, and everything else is open during the day, so early risers can better organize their schedules. The fact that we live in an era where most jobs are 9 to 5 — leads to more opportunities to be successful and productive. I wonder if it’s because less than 1% of people are genetically programmed to be night owls.

    Additionally, when teammates and coworkers cooperate, they become more productive, and receiving feedback in a timely manner helps them establish work and personal boundaries. Just ensure you set personal and professional boundaries if you finish your work before sunset.

    Side note: early in the morning was when I found the easiest to make money online. I was working at a full time job and started waking up at 5:30. Instead of going to the gym, I focused on side gigs, especially passive income side gigs that helped me to grow my passive income to over $45,000/month in 12 years. It didn’t happen overnight but that extra 2.5 hours a day really added up.

    The Downside of Being a Morning Person

    While there are many research-based benefits listed above, there are some drawbacks to being a morning person.

    Getting up early isn’t for everyone.

    It may not be possible for you to wake up early regardless of how strong your resolve is and how loud your alarms are. “Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, that’s a genetic predisposition,” sleep specialist Michael Breus told Fast Company. “There’s only so much you’re going to be able to do to try to change that.” Early birds may be more productive during the workday, but your chronotype, which is your natural sleep habits, determines how productive you are during the day.

    As a result, Breus suggests leaning into your chronotype rather than blindly following the habits of early birds, who constitute only 15% of the population. About 1 in 2 people have relatively “normal” sleeping habits; they function best when they don’t stay up too late or wake up too early and wake up at the same time every day. Breus describes naturally late risers–about 20% of the population–as wolves, people who sometimes struggle to get up early but are more productive at night.

    To put it another way, being ruthlessly productive doesn’t mean being perfect. In fact, Warren Buffet, Alexis Ohanian, Aaron Levie, and Pharrell Williams all wake up after 10 a.m.

    Simply put, if 4 a.m. seems unreasonably early to you, then adjusting your schedule won’t make sense. Why? Because you’ll probably lose sleep and be less productive as a result.

    It is now well known that sleep deprivation is one of the main contributors to low productivity. In addition to impairing cognitive performance, sleep deprivation can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and even shorten your lifespan.

    Early birds have a harder time socializing.

    It’s no secret that night owls have a more vibrant social life and are more likely to be the focus of attention.

    Aalto University’s Talayeh Aledavood reveals an unexpected characteristic of larks. The researchers gave 1,000 volunteers phones with an app that measures their social activity. All the connections between the volunteers were shown as a network. The more links a person has, the more popular he or she is.

    As it turns out, night owls had significantly more connections. Their communication would be more frequent, and they would organize gatherings more frequently. Even better, night owls have a habit of finding other owls quickly. Aledavood was surprised to find larks lacking in this respect. The majority of their social media time was spent alone since their schedules centered more around the morning and early afternoon.

    The study was the first to confirm that night owls have stronger and bigger social networks, as Aledavood herself stated. While morning larks rule the working world, owls rule the social world.

    Getting up earlier may be detrimental to your life.

    Are you a late sleeper? It’s possible that you’re smarter than your early-bird peers.

    The Daily Mail reports that people who sleep in, tend to be smarter than those who wake up early.

    In addition, late risers are more energetic.

    Participants slept and awoke according to their normal schedules. A variety of tests were given to them throughout the day. As soon as participants awoke, they all performed well on their tasks. Despite spending the same amount of time awake as the early birds, after 10 hours, the night owls performed significantly better.

    Dr. Philippe Peigneux, of the University of Liege in Belgium, said: ‘During the evening session, evening types were less sleepy and tended to perform faster than morning types.’

    Further, a study conducted by the University of Westminster found that those who rise earlier have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Also, Lisa Artis, from the Sleep Council says there’s no evidence that waking up early gives you an advantage. “While a minority may be part of the ‘sleepless elite,’ the majority are probably well versed at masking the signs of exhaustion.”

    “In today’s busy world, we’re all very eager to believe that sleeping one hour less will give us one more hour of productivity, but in reality, it’s likely to have the opposite effect,” she explains. “Natural sleep has restorative functions — it detoxes the neurotoxic waste that accumulates when you’re awake. Too little sleep, and this waste remains. Lack of sleep can be dangerous in other ways: it is one of the main contributors to burnout in top business leaders.”

    Your Wake-Up Time Doesn’t Always Matter

    To be honest, you’ll be more productive in the morning if aligns with your circadian rhythms. That means if you’re more of a night owl, then you won’t be productive bright and early. So, instead of being concerned about when you wake up, focus on getting a successful night’s sleep.

    Make sure you get eight and a half hours of sleep every night.

    In order to maximize your productivity throughout the day, sleep scientist Daniel Gartenberg recommends getting eight and a half hours of sleep each night.

    You should be asleep by 7:30 p.m. if you plan to set your alarm a few hours earlier. Perhaps that’s possible for you. But it’s unattainable for parents with nine-to-five jobs. Moreover, it’s going to be hard to keep up with your social life even if you don’t have children.

    In other words, if you focus more on getting adequate sleep, you’ll wake up with a clear mind and be more competitive than the person who stayed at the office until 9 p.m., went to bed at 11 p.m., and woke up at 4 a.m.

    At night, limit exposure to blue light.

    The digital world has made it nearly impossible to get to bed early in the past few years, according to research. All the LED lights in the house, blue screens on smartphones, and all the lights in the house on at 11 p.m. confuse the body into thinking it’s daylight.

    Our bodies haven’t evolved much since prehistoric times when sunlight was the source of our lives. Our wake-up and sleep times were dictated by the sun. We kept functioning until our bodies got near exhaustion because technology advances faster than evolution.

    After 8 p.m., limit your screen time and only turn on the lights that are necessary. It won’t take long for you to re-adjust when you keep your body’s usual rhythm.

    Be sure to listen to your body.

    Throughout the day, you probably experience periods of increased alertness and periods of low energy. You have a “chronotype,” or personal circadian rhythm, that determines this pattern. Although they tend to run in families, they vary from person to person.

    In most cases, people fall into one of two categories:

    • Early birds. Some research suggests that an early bird’s body clock may run slightly faster than 24 hours if they have the most energy first thing in the day.
    • Night owls. Studies suggest that evening people have slower body clocks than those who are awake during the day. You’ll have difficulty waking up in the morning and feeling alert. Towards the end of the day, like 11 p.m., you’ll have the most energy.

    Chronotypes aren’t set in stone, however. As we age, our circadian rhythms change. Due to the body clock shift during adolescence, for example, teens want to sleep longer in the morning and later into the night.

    Moreover, depending on your work schedule or school schedule, you may have to change your sleep habits.

    It’s possible to change your circadian rhythm yourself. But make sure to do it slowly. For instance, during the week, wake up 15 minutes earlier every day.

    Related: How to Actually Wake Up Early for People Who Aren’t Early Birds

    Engage in more physical activity.

    Anybody who’s ever tried the age-old advice will confirm that it works. You will be more likely to get to sleep earlier and sleep better if you do more physical activity during the day.

    Spend some time in the park with your family, pets, or friends, or engage in some sports activities, gardening, or hiking. Also, walking can often suffice.

    Be consistent with your hours.

    Commit to your sleep schedule once you find one that works for you.

    There is no difference between getting up early and sleeping early, according to a 2017 Harvard study. Keeping a consistent schedule is the most important thing.

    Over a month, researchers studied the sleeping habits of 61 students and correlated their academic performance with their habits. In contrast to students who slept and woke up at the same time every day, those who had irregular hours had worse grades.

    Discuss your sleep schedule with your boss if it doesn’t align with your work hours since many businesses are adjusting office hours to accommodate their employees’ internal clocks. If you’re in a leadership position, then you can set your own hours.

    Avoid hitting the snooze button.

    “By dozing off for those extra minutes, we’re preparing our bodies for another sleep cycle, which is then quickly interrupted — causing us to feel fatigued for the rest of the day that lies ahead,” sleep expert Neil Robinson said in an interview with The Independent.

    Image Credit: Ruslan Zzaebok; Pexels

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    John Rampton

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  • How to Control Your Brain for Optimal Functioning | Entrepreneur

    How to Control Your Brain for Optimal Functioning | Entrepreneur

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    Ben Angel, bestselling author of Unstoppable (Entrepreneur Press® 2018), CLICK, Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business, and Flee 9-5, is Australia’s leading marketing authority. Founder of benangel.co, a site dedicated to providing entrepreneurs advanced online marketing courses and education, Ben provides easy-to-apply and even easier-to-understand strategies for reaching new customers with ease.

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    Ben Angel

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  • Why Employers Forcing a Return to Office is Leading to More Worker Power and Unionization | Entrepreneur

    Why Employers Forcing a Return to Office is Leading to More Worker Power and Unionization | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Angry and dismayed Amazon employees are pushing back against the recently-announced return to office policy by the Amazon leadership. Amazon’s policy joins other high-profile companies such as Disney, Starbucks, Tesla, Google, and others that are forcing employees back to the office.

    Some are claiming they need to do so for the sake of productivity. For example, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, claimed that those working remotely only “pretend to work” and are “phoning it in.” Others say you need to be in the office to innovate: Disney’s CEO Bob Iger demanded the return to the office because “nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers that comes from being physically together.”

    However, in reality, extensive research shows remote workers are more productive than those in the office, not less. And you get more ideas and more novel ideas through techniques for innovation and creativity that are adapted to remote work.

    So what explains the situation? As a globally-known expert in the field of hybrid and remote work, I have seen firsthand how working remotely, whether part of the week or full-time, enables worker power through facilitating autonomy, decentralizing power and preventing micromanagement. Unfortunately, too many old-school managers like Iger and Musk prefer a rigid, top-down power structure; indeed, Elon Musk is well-known as an extreme micromanager.

    Related: You Should Let Your Team Decide Their Approach to Hybrid Work. A Behavioral Economist Explains Why and How You Should Do It.

    Such an authoritarian approach is well-suited to the assembly line model of the early 20th century, but not well-suited for a modern knowledge economy. That’s why we’re seeing employees use worker power to fight against these authoritarian mandates, resulting in empowered labor unions.

    It’s important to recognize that this turn to worker power is happening in the context of massive layoffs by tech companies, which are becoming less willing to offer perks like remote work to their workforce. In fact, there’s evidence that some companies such as Twitter are using return-to-office mandates to get workers to quit voluntarily, to avoid paying severance. Employers are increasingly getting the upper hand, as workers who feel anxious about the economy are reluctant to make demands for more remote work. However, such strategies may well backfire against employers in the long term if they spur increases in labor union organizing; even though individual employees might be anxious about their jobs, together they can press their case, especially given an unemployment rate of 3.4%, the lowest in over 50 years. And even tech workers are finding new jobs in three months or so, pointing to the strength of the labor market despite some shift toward employer power.

    Three case studies of worker power and the return to office

    YouTube contractors in Texas went on strike in protest of rules requiring such workers to report to the office. The workers, who are technically employed by Cognizant, were notified of the Feb. 6 return-to-office date in November. The vast majority of the contractors were hired during the pandemic and have always worked remotely. Workers say their pay, which starts at around $19 per hour, isn’t enough to cover the costs of relocating to and living in Austin. The workers’ strike came after they filed a prior month for union recognition, leading some to conclude the move was being made in retaliation. The workers are also seeking to have Google and Cognizant recognized as joint employers.

    The New Mexico State Personnel Office ordered state employees working remotely to return to in-person work at the start of the new year. Many voiced their frustrations against the order, citing issues with commute, health, poor in-person work conditions, lack of child care, and low pay, among other things. State workers rallied against the state’s return-to-office order at the roundhouse in Santa Fe. Dan Secrist, president of CWA Local 7076, said the state’s return-to-office mandate has worsened problems it was intended to solve while creating new ones.

    The Canadian Federal government ordered public service employees to return to the office up to three days per week. A recent survey of nearly 14,000 public service workers revealed close to 75% of government employees would rather work from home. Marc Brière serves as the national president for the Union of Taxation Employees, which represents some 37,000 workers with the Canada Revenue Agency. He says it is unnecessary for the majority of employees to return to the office.

    Tensions between employers and workers over the return to office

    These cases illustrate the increasing tension between employers and workers, particularly over the return to the office. The pandemic has accelerated the trend toward remote work, and workers are now resisting the idea of returning to the office. Many workers have become accustomed to the flexibility and freedom that come with remote work, and employers who refuse to allow it are facing backlash.

    Employers are forcing their employees back to the office to impose control over workers, but they are failing to recognize that remote work enables worker power. In fact, remote work is empowering workers by giving them more control over their lives and work. With remote work, workers can choose where and when to work, which gives them more control over their schedules and their work-life balance.

    Employers who are forcing their employees back to the office are trying to reassert control over their workers, but they are finding that it is backfiring. Workers are pushing back against these efforts, and many are joining unions to protect their rights and interests. Employers who refuse to recognize this trend risk alienating their workers and facing the consequences.

    Cognitive biases in the return to office increases worker power

    The drive to return employees to the office to regain control over employees is a prime example of how cognitive biases can lead to poor decision-making. Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts that we use to process information quickly and efficiently. They can lead us to make decisions that are not based on facts or rational thought, but on our personal beliefs, emotions and past experiences. In the context of the return to the office, employers are making decisions that are based on cognitive biases that are leading them to overlook the dangers of their actions.

    One of the most common cognitive biases at play in this context is confirmation bias. This is the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms our pre-existing beliefs or biases. Employers who are determined to bring their employees back to the office are more likely to seek out information that supports this decision while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts it. This can lead them to make decisions that are not in the best interests of their organizations by harming relations with employees, leading both to challenges with retention and resistance by employees through worker power.

    Another cognitive bias that is prevalent in this context is the status quo bias. This is the tendency to prefer things to stay the way they are, rather than change. Employers who are used to having their employees work in the office may be resistant to change, even if remote work has proven to be effective and beneficial for their employees. They may be more inclined to return to the office simply because it is the way things have always been done, rather than because it is the best decision for their employees or their organization.

    The dangers of cognitive biases in this context are significant. By ignoring the benefits of remote work and forcing their employees back to the office, employers risk alienating their workers, and they may also be creating a situation where workers are more likely to unionize. This is because when employees feel that their needs are not being met, they are more likely to band together and form a union to protect their interests.

    Conclusion

    It is time for employers to recognize the value of remote work and to work with their employees to create hybrid or remote work arrangements that meet the needs of both parties. Employers who do so will enjoy a happier and more productive workforce, while those who refuse to adapt risk falling behind in a rapidly changing world.

    Remote work enables worker power, and employers who recognize this fact will be better positioned to succeed in the years ahead. As a manager, it is important to listen to your employees and to work with them to create the best possible work environment for all. By doing so, you can create a strong and vibrant workplace culture that will help you succeed in the long run.

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    Gleb Tsipursky

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  • The Hidden Dangers of Working Remotely | Entrepreneur

    The Hidden Dangers of Working Remotely | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The Covid-19 pandemic changed the global workforce in a way that will probably never reverse course. Although remote work was out there before the pandemic, remote jobs are much more plentiful now. They’re also more in demand than ever before.

    Workers realized that they like the freedom that working from home gives them, and many employers recognized that having their workers do their work from home was cheaper and more advantageous than having them come into the office.

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    Ryan Droste

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  • At 55 years old, I will have worked for 30 years — what are the pros and cons of retiring at that age? 

    At 55 years old, I will have worked for 30 years — what are the pros and cons of retiring at that age? 

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    Dear MarketWatch, 

    I currently own one home, no mortgage with rental income. I own another home that will be paid off the year I turn 55. Both valued at $750,000.  I have a 401(k) and other stocks and investments totaling another $750,000. My debt will be all paid by the year I turn 55.  

    I have been on my job for 27 years. It will be 30 years when I’m 55. What are the disadvantages and advantages of not working after 55 years of age?

    See: ‘I will work until I die’ — I’m 74, have little money saved and battle medical issues. ‘I want to retire so I can have a few years to enjoy life.’

    Dear reader, 

    It is completely understandable that you would want to retire after working for 30 years, especially when you have rental income, but I would caution you to take this decision very seriously and find a few backup plans. 

    One big pro of waiting until 55 is the fact that you get to withdraw from your current 401(k) at that age. It’s called the Rule of 55, and not everyone knows about it. Usually, savers have to wait until they’re 59 ½ years old in order to take distributions from their retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans and IRAs. An early distribution incurs a 10% penalty, plus taxes. 

    The Rule of 55 gives workers a break if they want to tap into their 401(k) and have separated from their current job for any reason. 

    But you probably don’t want to tap into that 401(k) — or at least, you shouldn’t want to do that.  

    Also see: We have $1.6 million but most is locked in our 401(k) plans — how can we retire early without paying so much in taxes?

    If you stop working at 55, you’re halting a major source of income. Rental property is great, and having no mortgage over your head is a huge plus, but will it be enough to cover your everyday expenses and the unexpected for decades to come? Retirement isn’t what it used to be — people are living longer, which means every dollar you have for retirement needs to last until you die. If you retire at 55, you could potentially be in retirement for 30 years — or more. Do you think your nest egg and any other sources of income, like Social Security and rental income, could cover you for that long? 

    Some people would say $750,000 in a retirement account is more than enough, but others would argue it is not. Of course, it also depends on what your annual expenses are, what future spending could look like if you were to fall ill or need to change something from your current lifestyle. And do you have any other money set aside for various circumstances, like repairs on either of your homes? 

    You could look to see what other sources of income may look like (for example, what can you expect from Social Security?) but you should still find a few backup plans for income so that you’re not sweating it out later in life. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but rental income may not be enough to make ends meet or keep you from distributing too much from your retirement accounts. Also, do you have money set aside to offset your costs if your property is vacant for a little while?

    Check out MarketWatch’s column “Retirement Hacks” for actionable pieces of advice for your own retirement savings journey 

    Also, don’t forget about healthcare. If you’re not married to a spouse who has health insurance through an employer, what would you do? Medicare eligibility starts at age 65, which means you would need your own health insurance for an entire decade, and that can be quite expensive. 

    Instead of retiring fully, is there another job you may be happier working? Or some type of part-time gig you could take on? A huge bonus would be if this job comes with health benefits, as well as another retirement account you could keep putting money into until you’re ready to fully retire. 

    I know this may not have been the answer you wanted to hear, but it’s absolutely worth considering every possible good and bad thing that could come out of retiring early. But as with everything else in life, you need to strike a balance — finding work you can do that brings in an income, while also enjoying your life now. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it to plan this out a bit more before you celebrate the big 55. 

    Readers: Do you have suggestions for this reader? Add them in the comments below.

    Have a question about your own retirement savings? Email us at HelpMeRetire@marketwatch.com

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  • I’m a single dad maxing out my retirement accounts and earning $100,000 – how do I make the most of my retirement dollars?

    I’m a single dad maxing out my retirement accounts and earning $100,000 – how do I make the most of my retirement dollars?

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    Dear MarketWatch, 

    I make over $100,000 a year, and expect to for the foreseeable future. As of now, I am contributing 8% of my income to my 403(b) with a 3% 401(a) match; all Roth. It would be more, but I am maxing out a Roth IRA and an HSA as well each year. I am a single father with a 9-year-old daughter, and do not have plans to marry, so I’m planning everything as single. I expect house to be paid off when I (plan to anyway) retire at age 65. I plan to collect Social Security at 67.

    My question is, should I move my 403(b) & 401(a) income to pretax dollars, since I expect to be in a lower tax bracket echelon once I retire? Or leave it at Roth. I’m hoping for some advice on what would generally be the most prudent option to maximize retirement dollars. 

    See: I’m a 39-year-old single dad with $600,000 saved – I want to retire at 50 but don’t know how. What should I do?

    Dear reader, 

    First, congratulations on maxing out your Roth IRA and HSA and contributing to your other retirement accounts — managing that while being a single dad and paying off a home is no simple task. 

    You’ve asked the age-old retirement planning question: should I be investing in a traditional account, or a Roth? For readers unaware, traditional accounts are invested with pretax dollars, and the money is taxed at withdrawal in retirement. Roth accounts are invested with after-tax dollars upon deposit, and then withdrawn tax-free (if investors follow the rules as far as how and when to take the money, such as after the account has been opened for five years and the investor is 59 ½ years old or older).

    As you know, the rule of thumb for choosing between a Roth and a traditional account comes down to taxes. If you’re in a lower tax bracket, advisers will typically suggest opting for a Roth as you’ll be paying taxes at a lower rate now versus a potentially higher one later. For a traditional, you may be better off if you’re in your peak earning years and expect to drop a tax bracket or more at the time of withdrawal. 

    One of the greatest challenges, however, is knowing future tax brackets. You may think you’ll be in a lower one now, but you can’t be sure. We also don’t know what tax rates might even look like when you get to retirement. The current tax rates are expected to increase in 2026, when the brackets from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire. Congress may do something before that, or after of course.

    Check out MarketWatch’s column ‘Retirement Hacks’ for actionable advice for your own retirement savings journey 

    That being said, if you believe you’ll be in a lower tax bracket in retirement, it doesn’t hurt to have some of your money go in a traditional account. Having tax diversification can really work in your favor, too. It allows you more control and freedom when retirement does come, as you’ll be able to choose which accounts you withdraw from and how to save the most on taxes. The more options, the better. 

    You should do your best to crunch the numbers now, and then make a plan to do it every year or so until you get to retirement. Here’s one calculator that can help. 

    Make estimates where you have to, and factor in inflation — I’m sure we’ve all seen how inflation can impact personal finances in the last year alone. There are a few other things you can do to make these calculations. For example, get a sense of what your Social Security income may be by creating an account with the Social Security Administration, which will show you what you could expect to receive in benefits at various claiming ages. Also add in any other income you may get, like a pension.

    After you calculate what you expect to spend in retirement, you can figure out what your withdrawal needs will be — and how that will impact your taxable income depending on if the money comes from a traditional or Roth account. Remember: Withdrawals from Roths do not increase your taxable income, whereas traditional account investments do when taken out.  

    Keep in mind, Roth IRAs have one really great advantage over traditional accounts — they are not subject to required minimum distributions, which is when investors must withdraw money from the account if they haven’t yet done so by the mandatory age. Traditional employer-sponsored plans, like 401(k) and 403(b) plans, are subjected to an RMD. Roth employer-sponsored plans have also had an RMD, though the Secure Act 2.0, which Congress passed at the end of 2022, eliminates the RMD for Roth workplace plans beginning in 2024. (The Secure Act 2.0 also pushed the age up for RMDs to 73 this year, and age 75 in 2033.) 

    Also see: We want to retire in a few years, and have about $1 million saved. Should I move my money to a Roth, and pay off my $200,000 mortgage while I’m at it?

    Traditional versus Roth accounts are just one piece of the puzzle in retirement planning, though. There are many other questions you need to ask yourself, and a financial planner if you’re interested and able to work with one. For example, what rates of return are you anticipating on your investments, and how are your investments allocated? What state do you live in now and will that change in retirement (that will affect your taxes). Are you concerned about leaving behind an inheritance, and have you considered life insurance? And even before you get to retirement, as a single dad, do you have a will, healthcare proxy and disability insurance in the event something unfortunate happens? 

    I know this may feel overwhelming, especially when you’re taking into account calculations and estimates for years and years from now, but it will all be worth it. Consider working with a qualified financial planner, or talking to someone at the firm that houses your investments, and don’t feel obligated to stick with whatever you choose until you retire. As with many things in life, retirement plans tend to change and adapt as you do. 

    Have a question about your own retirement savings? Email us at HelpMeRetire@marketwatch.com

    Readers: Do you have suggestions for this reader? Add them in the comments below.

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  • My fiancé and I are 60. His adult daughter is opposed to our marriage — and insists on inheriting her father’s $3.2 million estate. How should we handle her?

    My fiancé and I are 60. His adult daughter is opposed to our marriage — and insists on inheriting her father’s $3.2 million estate. How should we handle her?

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    What advice would you give to a widow and widower considering marriage on how to manage finances — and deal with adult children?

    We are both 60 years old and plan to work a few more years, mostly for health insurance. We both have about $1.5 million in retirement savings accounts. Our spouses’ 401(k)s and IRAs rolled into our accounts.

    I have another $500,000 in a brokerage and he has almost another $1 million. We both own homes with $300,000 mortgages. Mine is worth $500,000, Paul’s (not his real name) home is worth $1 million. We have no other debt.

    We both have one married, and one unmarried child that we help. We both have two grandchildren.

    We should be set up very well. Here’s the concern: His married, well-off daughter is very aggressive about inheritance. She wants the family home retitled in a trust. She wants all life insurance and brokerage beneficiaries in her name. Her brother has had drug-addiction problems, so she’s cutting him out even though it seems he’s the one who will need help.

    “‘She wants the family home retitled in a trust. She wants all life insurance and brokerage beneficiaries in her name.’”

    The daughter isn’t thrilled about our relationship and suggests we just live together. For religious reasons, I would never do this. Grandma shacking up? What example would I set for my grandchildren?

    As a widowed couple, we are realistic enough to plan for the time one of us is left alone. Paul has diabetes, high blood pressure and already sees a cardiologist. What if he has a heart attack? Stroke? Or if he dies?

    What’s a fair way to mingle finances and allow security for me should he predecease me while allowing Paul’s daughter to ultimately inherit?

    By the way, my children have never raised money as an issue. After we both cared for spouses through cancer, they know life is short and just want us to be happy.

    Happy to Have Found Love Again

    Dear Happy,

    She is overstepping the line, and overplaying her hand.

    The first rule of inheritance is that it’s not yours until the decedent’s money is sitting in your bank account. Your fiancé’s daughter can make all the demands she likes, but the only thing your fiancé has to do is say, “You don’t need to be concerned. My affairs are all in order. I’ve always taken care of my own affairs, and I am not changing now.”

    How your fiancé decides to split his estate is entirely up to him, and can be done in consultation with a financial adviser and attorney, taking into account each of his children’s individual needs. For instance, if you move in together, he could give you a life estate, allowing you to live in the home for the rest of your life, and dividing the property between his two children thereafter. 

    Given that you have your own home, however, you may decide to rent it out, and move back there in the event that he predeceases you. There are so many ways to split an inheritance. You could look at the intestate laws of your state, and follow them. In New York, the spouse inherits the first $50,000 of intestate property, plus half of the balance, and the kids inherit the rest.

    “Paul” may decide to set up a trust for his son, so he can provide an income for him over the course of his life. If he has or had issues with addiction, this will help him while not putting temptation in his way with a lump sum of money. The best kind of trust is the one that deals with any recurring issues directly, and takes into account the person’s circumstances.

    Martin Hagan, a Pennsylvania-based estate-planning attorney who has practiced for four decades, writes: “First, it would authorize distributions only if the beneficiary is actively pursuing treatment and recovery.  Second, it would limit distributions to paying only for the expenses incurred in carrying out the treatment plan that will have been developed for the beneficiary.”

    You have $2 million collectively in a retirement and brokerage account and $200,000 equity in his home, and you can use these next seven years or so to pay off your mortgage, while your fiancé has $2.5 million and $700,000 in equity on his home. You are both well set up for retirement, and let’s hope you have many years to spend together.

    The financial services industry has many opinions. You should, advisers say, have 10 times your salary saved by the time you’re 65 years old. You don’t mention your salary, but I would be surprised if many people in America had that much money saved, especially given all of the unexpected events — divorce, illness, job loss — that can occur in the intervening years.

    You also have other priorities than dealing with an aggressive daughter/daughter-in-law. AARP suggests that most people should look into long-term care insurance between the ages of 60 and 65, around the time most people are eligible to qualify for Medicare. If you do it earlier, it can serve as a savings account in the event that you never need long-term care, AARP says.

    As retirement columnist Richard Quinn recently wrote on MarketWatch, everybody’s circumstances are different. “Living in retirement isn’t about averages. It isn’t about what other people do or the opinions of experts, especially online instant experts who don’t know anything about you and have yet to experience many years of retirement themselves.”

    Don’t give too much oxygen or power to your future daughter-in-law. Her father should give her a stock answer, and be firm. If she persists, he can say, “The subject is closed. I need you to respect the decisions I make about my own life, respect my privacy on these matters, and it would be nice if you would be happy for us, and support us in our marriage together.”

    You can’t change people. But you can change wills.  

    You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions related to coronavirus at qfottrell@marketwatch.com, and follow Quentin Fottrell on Twitter.

    Check out the Moneyist private Facebook group, where we look for answers to life’s thorniest money issues. Readers write in to me with all sorts of dilemmas. Post your questions, tell me what you want to know more about, or weigh in on the latest Moneyist columns.

    The Moneyist regrets he cannot reply to questions individually.

    More from Quentin Fottrell:

    My boyfriend wants me to move into his home and pay rent. I suggested only paying for utilities and groceries. What should I do?

    My dinner date ‘forgot’ his wallet and took the receipt for his taxes. Should I have called him out for being cheapskate?

    My boyfriend lives in my house with my 2 kids, but refuses to pay rent or contribute to food and utility bills. What’s my next move?

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  • Entrepreneur | 3 Proven Ways to Achieve Superhuman Focus in 14-Days

    Entrepreneur | 3 Proven Ways to Achieve Superhuman Focus in 14-Days

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    Have you ever considered your inability to focus is due to your nutrition, not your lack of willpower?

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    Ben Angel

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  • Entrepreneur | 15 Tips to Create Good Habits and Actually Keep Them

    Entrepreneur | 15 Tips to Create Good Habits and Actually Keep Them

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    What if everything ran on autopilot? This includes chores, exercise, healthy eating and completing your work. They just happen on their own. The problem is that unless they invent robots, all your work won’t disappear overnight.

    It is possible, however, to create a new habit that requires little effort to maintain, with a little bit of initial discipline.

    What are habits?

    Before going on further, let me quickly explain what habits are.

    In short, habits are learned behaviors that become reflexive over time. In many cases, a specific context triggers the behavior. After eating breakfast, for instance, you may brush your teeth automatically.

    There are three types of habits: healthy, unhealthy and neutral. For example, taking ten minutes a day to stretch or meditate when feeling stressed can be classified as a healthy habit. An example of an unhealthy habit would be smoking a cigarette whenever you’re stressed. Taking the same route to work or eating the same breakfast each morning are neutral habits.

    A habit is a learned behavior, whereas an unconscious behavior, like breathing or blinking, does not count.

    Related: 3 Things That’ll Make You a Master of Forming — and Keeping — Great Habits

    What’s the difference between habits and routines?

    A habit is different from a routine because you’re aware of it. In other words, habits are repeated actions on autopilot, whereas routines are planned.

    Unless you practice routines deliberately, they will eventually disappear. Habits, however, are formed unconsciously.

    Intention and effort are necessary for gratitude practice, for example. It won’t run automatically. Exercise is no different. Exercising isn’t going to happen by itself. You will, however, grab a cigarette on autopilot if you have the habit.

    To become a habit, a routine should be carried out without conscious thought. For example, say you begin your morning routine by drinking green juice. You can consider it a habit when you start making your juice daily without thinking about it.

    How are habits formed?

    The majority of habits begin as intentional, goal-directed actions. As an example, a parent may instruct a young child to wash their hands before eating. In the beginning, a child may only wash their hands to get praise from their parents. It is possible that they need a reminder every time they eat to do the task.

    In time, the child will get used to the washing routine and no longer need reminders. Even if the parent doesn’t reward the behavior, the child will wash their hands before meals. Because the behavior is driven more by context than concrete rewards, it can be described as a habit.

    It is possible to think of habit formation as the creation of a mental shortcut. For example, a child must take many steps to wash their hands before dinner. To wash their hands, they need to go to the sink, turn on the water, lather on soap and then dry them off. Once the habit forms, the brain begins to group these steps together as a single “chunk.” To put that another way, it interprets these steps as a single behavior.

    The good thing about habits? They can save your mental energy. For you to focus on more complicated choices, you may save energy if you repeat certain behaviors automatically. The problem with reflexive behavior is that it is harder to notice and stop them. It can be hard to interrupt habits such as nail-biting at the moment since the brain identifies them as one action.

    Now that you have more clarity on what habits are, how they’re formed and the difference between habits and routines, here are a few tips to help you develop good habits and keep them:

    1. Choose an easy habit that you will not be able to resist

    “The most important part of building a new habit is staying consistent,” says James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. “It doesn’t matter how well you perform on any individual day.” Consistency is the key.

    Because of this, new habits should be so easy that you cannot resist them.

    • Would you like to build a habit of exercising? Today, you will exercise for one minute.

    • Do you want to get into the habit of writing? Make a goal of writing three sentences today.

    • Want to start eating healthy? This week, you should eat one healthy meal.

    “It doesn’t matter if you start small because there will be plenty of time to pick up the intensity later,” Clear adds. “You don’t need to join a CrossFit gym, write a book or change your entire diet at the very beginning.”

    “It’s easy to compare yourself to what others are doing or to feel the urge to optimize your performance and do more,” he says. “Don’t let those feelings pull you off course.”

    Demonstrate your ability to stick with something small for 30 days. After you are consistently on track, you may want to increase the difficulty. Performance is irrelevant at the beginning.

    Related: The First Step to Creating Healthy Habits Is Smaller Than You Think

    2. Think positively

    When you decide to develop good habits in yourself, staying optimistic is one of the most essential elements. In addition to helping you overcome negative feelings, positive thinking enables you to deal with stress effectively.

    In order to think positively, you do not ignore all the unpleasant things in life and carry on with your daily activities. Instead, you react positively to them all.

    If you think mostly negatively about changing your habits, you will have a hard time adopting the new, good one. But, on the other hand, it is easier for your mind to accept something if you view it positively.

    So, instead of focusing on the negative, be positive. Remember, with the right attitude, the sky’s the limit.

    3. Reduce triggers and cravings

    Find out which people, places and activities are connected with bad habits in your mind. After that, you should change how you behave toward them.

    Those with shopping addictions should avoid shopping malls, for example. Also, when your friends take a smoke break, don’t go outside with them if you’re trying to quit.

    There is also a link between chronic stress and poor behavior. As such, managing your stress levels will help you avoid triggers.

    In the same way, cravings are driven by a desire to change your internal state of being. In other words, you can reduce cravings by identifying how you want to feel. Then, once that feeling is achieved, take an action that is healthier.

    Instead of smoking when you want to relax, take a bath. Rather than drinking your third cup of coffee, eat a banana when you need energy.

    4. Do it every day

    Researchers from the University of Bristol investigated how people form habits in the real world, asking participants to take a walk before dinner or drink water at lunch. In the study, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it was found that it took 18 to 254 days for a task to become automatic. However, the median time was 66 days.

    What is the lesson? Creating habits takes time. The more often we practice them, however, the quicker they become, so start with something little and simple.

    For example, it’s more effective to do a small amount of exercise every day, rather than trying to go to the gym thrice a week to stick with an exercise habit. Then, as you become accustomed to daily exercise, you can begin exploring more intense forms.

    5. Swish – a technique from NLP

    Swish Patterns are used to break unwanted habits and limiting behaviors. In this method, you imagine a situation that is undesirable or triggers you, as well as a version of the situation that would result in a perfect outcome. After that, you swish the two images so that the desirable one occupies more mental space.

    The first thing you need to do is visualize yourself doing a bad habit. After that, visualize yourself letting go of the bad habit and taking on a new one. Then end that sequence with a highly positive image of yourself.

    Think of how you would feel if you picked up a cigarette, put it down and snapped your fingers. Last but not least, visualize yourself running and breathing freely. You should repeat the process a few times until the new habit becomes automatic.

    Related: Form Lasting Habits Using These 4 Strategies

    6. Make the habit fun to repeat

    Most of us overestimate our willpower when trying to build a new habit and set a course for the most efficient method to accomplish our goal. For example, suppose you want to become fit through regular exercise. In most cases, you’ll look for workouts that yield quick results, such as running on a treadmill.

    However, research suggests that finding ways to make goal pursuit fun will help you persist longer and ultimately accomplish more.

    For exercise, this might mean going to Yoga or Zumba classes with a friend, hiking or joining a team sport. For those trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, smoothies can combine multiple servings of fruits and vegetables in one tasty drink.

    Overall, a positive experience is critical to habit formation. But it’s often overlooked since repetition is key to sticking with something you enjoy.

    7. Consider failure while planning for success

    Again, it takes time to build a new habit, so don’t expect success overnight. A good habit could require many failures before you become habitual.

    As a result of your guilt after your failure, you may stop incorporating that good habit into your daily routine. A solid plan, though, will make it easy for you to get back on track quickly.

    You should remember that slipping up is not a failure. It’s a normal part of the process. However, to develop good habits, it’s important to have a plan for dealing with failure. So, make sure you don’t start building a good habit without a plan.

    8. Motivate yourself intrinsically

    There are two things you need to believe to build intrinsic motivation:

    • First, as long as you act according to your own preferences, you have the freedom to do so.

    • The work you do will make you a better, more knowledgeable person.

    It is essential to learn how to deal with negative emotions to believe these two things. Additionally, you’ll need a way to measure your progress. After all, progress is an important motivator. The simplest method is to write it down and stick it on your mirror. Writing in a journal or creating a more detailed spreadsheet might also be options.

    9. Make sure you’re flexible

    As soon as we put something on autopilot, we fall into pretty consistent routines, exercising, studying or taking our medication at the same time and place every day. However, research suggests you should deliberately introduce some variability into your routine when you’re just beginning to form habits.

    There’s still no substitute for having a first-best plan. For instance, establish a mindfulness habit, perhaps meditating at 7:00 a.m. every day. Likewise, you should also consider mixing in a meditation session around and another at 6:00 p.m.

    As you recall, it’s essential to repeat a behavior frequently to build a habit. However, the less brittle your routine becomes, the less likely you will follow through. If you have a flexible habit, you can still accomplish what you need to, even when things go off track. For example, let’s say that a traffic jam prevented you from meditating in the morning; you can still practice mindfulness at noon.

    The key to being flexible is to provide yourself with “emergency reserves.” You’ll have these cards on hand for those days when you can’t meditate, for instance. Think of them as your Get Out of Jail Free card in Monopoly.

    A challenging goal, like meditating daily, for instance, can motivate you more than an easier one. But if you miss multiple targets, it can be demoralizing. If an emergency arises, having a few emergency reserves each week allows you to miss a day without losing sight of your goal.

    10. Work on your environment

    Environment plays a huge role in developing good habits. For example, let’s say you decide to eat a clean diet. However, when you open the fridge door, you see all the junk food inside. You’ll have a hard time resisting that, won’t you?

    You will have difficulty getting rid of your bad habits if you do not change your environment. It is, therefore, better to alter your environment according to your goals.

    Related: 5 Ways to Set Good Habits That Actually Stick

    11. Adopt healthy routines

    Good habits are built through lifestyle choices. So, what is the best way to change your lifestyle? By improving your daily routine.

    In other words, take the time to plan out your day and incorporate healthy practices where appropriate.

    Eat vegetables and fruits as soon as you wake up, for instance. Then, you can take a restorative nap during your lunch break. In the evenings, go for a stroll. Just remember to select realistic and healthy practices when choosing them.

    12. Get the social support you need

    Sometimes, this step is overlooked despite being obvious. As you set goals, let your friends and family know about them since they can serve as cheerleaders and hold you accountable.

    Evidence suggests that the behavior of those around us strongly influences our behavior. For example, are you interested in starting a regular running routine? It’s probably better to join a running club than ask a few friends who don’t jog to join you. After all, members of the running club already have the habits you’re looking for. As a result, you’ll learn what works and gain friends who will keep you on your toes when you fall behind.

    If you want to pick up good habits, try hanging out with people who are a few steps ahead of you. However, don’t overextend yourself. The experience of training with marathoners can be disheartening if you only want to improve your 5K speed.

    Overall, it has been shown that socializing with people who are already successful and being inspired by them is crucial for success. The added bonus is that it’s more fun to achieve your goals with the people you like.

    13. Keep a journal

    In general, journaling is considered a good habit. Why? As well as helping you learn from your mistakes and wins, it enables you to improve your ability to communicate.

    You are likely to achieve many victories as well as some mistakes when you implement a good habit into your life. Keeping a journal in which you list all your wins and errors will allow you to easily see all the mistakes at a glance that were not in line with your habits development strategy.

    Furthermore, it can help reduce these mistakes so you can remove obstacles to developing a positive habit and replace it with a negative one. In addition to identifying the obstacles, this method accelerates your habit-building progress.

    14. Set calendar reminders

    It can be hard to remember to maintain a habit at first. As discussed above, habituation takes time.

    One solution would be using an online calendar, such as Google Calendar, iCal, or Microsoft Calendar. With these calendar tools, you can schedule the habits you want to develop. You can also set notifications to remind you when it’s time to start working on a task. And you can even make events that recur monthly, weekly or daily.

    Related: Science Says Healthy Scheduling Habits Make People Happier

    15. Practice self-compassion instead of self-judgment

    The probability of you having a bad outcome is much higher if you think that you can’t do the good habit you want to incorporate into your life. The reason? Because it’s hard. When faced with a difficult task, motivating yourself with a can-do attitude is better than judging yourself.

    Self-judgment creates a sense of guilt and shame because you take responsibility for your mistakes when you are working on them. In turn, you begin to feel guilty and ashamed. Negative consequences often accompany these feelings.

    Because of this, it’s important to think about forming a good habit with self-compassion rather than self-judgment to give yourself some empathy and love, making it easier to do so.

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    John Rampton

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  • Entrepreneur | Bugaboo’s GM of North America Reveals Her Productivity Hacks

    Entrepreneur | Bugaboo’s GM of North America Reveals Her Productivity Hacks

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    Jeanelle Teves is the General Manager of North America at Bugaboo, where she leads the future growth strategy and is passionate about empowering new parents. Before joining Bugaboo, she spent nearly a decade at Nike where she worked on campaigns such as the first launch of wearable technology Nike+ FuelBand, London Olympics, Paris Fashion Week and Women’s World Cup. Today she has secured partnerships with the TODAY Show, GRAMMY Awards, and many celebrity parents-to-be. She sat down with Jessica Abo to discuss what’s on the horizon for Bugaboo and her parental advice for moms and dads looking to be more productive.

    Jessica Abo: Jeanelle, whether we have our own children or we take care of other people’s children, we have a lot of moving parts when we’re dealing with little people. Tell us a little bit about your day-to-day life as a working mom and at Bugaboo.

    Every day looks different! In the morning, I could be meeting with my Amsterdam-based headquarters team where we talk about future innovation concepts and where I provide my feedback. And in the afternoon, I’ll be working with my U.S.-based team on business results. Outside of this, I am also a mom to two young children, a five-year-old and a two-year-old, and it is so important to me that I’m present for them. My partner is a stay-at-home dad, and we don’t have any childcare support, so we work together to align our priorities and time so that I can show up at Bugaboo and for my family.

    What does that look like for you starting from the time you wake up in the morning?

    I find it helpful to begin my day by writing, what are the three biggest priorities? And I just ask myself the question, what is going to move the needle? I ask myself this question before diving into any week. Then, I communicate those priorities to my inner circle. Every Sunday evening, I have a meeting with my partner and we review those three priorities for our family. Every Monday morning, I have a meeting with my leadership team and we review the three business priorities. That way everyone around me is united on time, energy and dollars invested, and together we are stronger.

    When it comes to the office, what have been some of the biggest wins to date?

    When I first joined the company, I was returning to work after just having my son, Maximilian. I was in the very fresh newborn stage and feeding him around the clock. And I’m pretty sure that in my first one-on-ones, my teammates could hear the breast pump going. It became really clear to me at that moment that I wanted to be able to create a flexible company culture and updated policies that live our brand purpose: to empower parents in the workplace. Since then, we have modernized our employee handbook to support families. We’ve extended maternity and paternity care, incorporated reproductive financial support, initiated flexible working hours and half-day wellness Fridays. To be in a position that creates change in the workforce is something that I am deeply proud of.

    And what are some of the biggest accomplishments that you’ve had as a mom?

    I have found tactics to blend business and family, and feel fully present for my children in the best way that I can. For me, that means giving my full self to my family in the morning. So I am not there throughout the entire day, but I am fully present in the morning. I make my kids a balanced and healthy breakfast. I sit down with them with a cup of coffee and we talk about what my kindergartner is going to be doing that day. I talk to my preschooler about what his day’s going to look like, and I am fully there. And then when I leave for the office, I’m on, I’m in work mode. That is the best that I can do and I protect those mornings.

    I love that. It’s almost like you have a morning meeting with your kids, which is amazing. When you think about work mode and you look ahead to 2023, what are some of the things that are on the horizon for the brand?

    We have just announced our Push to Zero Campaign, which is our ESG commitment to be carbon footprint net-zero by 2035. What does that mean? From materials and fabrics to sourcing and finishing, every element of our strollers is thoughtfully considered to create a long-lasting product and to reduce its impact on the planet as much as possible. As part of this commitment, as of this year, our strollers will be made with bio-based materials.

    What are some of the productivity hacks that you can share with other working parents?

    My favorite productivity hack is to find your biological prime time. Everyone has it. This is when you are sharpest and you feel like you have a spark of energy and focus part of that time on yourself. So for me, that is early in the morning, first thing when I wake up and I begin every day with a morning routine that sets me up and I swear by it. I wake up at 5:00 am, again, this is what works for me, and the first thing that I do is reach down and I grab my journal, which is next to my bed, and I write down what I am grateful for.

    I drink a ton of water, which is also there right by my bed. And I do a really simple workout. It doesn’t have to be complicated. I work out for 25 minutes and just move my body. From then, I usually have about 30 minutes where I can set up my workday and really write down those three priorities that I want to tell my team before it’s time to get my kids up. And then I am fully with my kids. Filling my cup first, allows me to be extra productive and then give to everyone else for the rest of my day.

    Finally, what do you want to say to the parents out there who might be feeling that guilt of, “I’m at the office, but I want to be with my kids,” or, “I’m with my kids, but I still have all of this work to do”?

    Sometimes when it’s really overwhelming and you feel like you have a lot to do, you have a lot at your desk, you have a lot going on at home. How can you just be 1% better? How can you be a 1% better teammate? How can you be a 1% better manager? 1% better mom? Those things that at the moment seem to make no difference added up, make a profound change over time. I love the concept of marginal gains.

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    Jessica Abo

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  • Entrepreneur | Business Owners Can Have Work-Life Balance With These 5 Tips

    Entrepreneur | Business Owners Can Have Work-Life Balance With These 5 Tips

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    A universal reality for business professionals is the need to balance personal and professional lives, striving to find that ever-elusive work-life balance. This is true regardless of industry or position.

    One significant element of that stress and pressure is the ability, or lack thereof, to manage time effectively. Many will admit to feeling like there is never enough time in life. The days and weeks are insufficient when faced with the mounting list of tasks and responsibilities we navigate daily.

    Accomplishing these goals on time and in good form necessitates tracking immediate tasks, monitoring long-term projects and, most importantly, maximizing the finite business hours within which we operate.

    Discovering how we are best equipped to manage our time effectively is something we can all strive for, a process that is ultimately unique to each of us. To see the creation of a structured, strategic approach to achieving our professional and personal goals is to see time management in action.

    Related: 15 Time Management Tips for Achieving Your Goals

    The relationship between time management and mental health

    It is helpful to recognize the connection between time management and mental health. The two are intertwined, affecting our ability to achieve a positive work-life balance and our ability as professionals to lead effectively.

    As Deanna Ritchie, editor-in-chief at Calendar, wrote, “Time management and anxiety are cyclical, where poor time management can cause anxiety and high anxiety can result in unmet deadlines.”

    Those who struggle with time management can experience heightened health concerns, including stress and anxiety, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and insufficient or disturbed sleep.

    Conversely, as an individual’s mental health progresses, there’s a natural correlation to their quality of life improving.

    Related: 5 Reasons Why You Need to Learn Time Management for Your Business

    Finding the ways that work for you to improve time management skills

    To succeed, we must all manage our time effectively — this is an idiom we can all agree on. But how, specifically, does one define time management?

    In truth, time management will vary for everyone. Every job, every position, regardless of industry, requires achieving certain goals. How that is best accomplished is dependent on the uniqueness of the individual. While the minutia may differ, there are proven strategies that can help guide our ability to effectively manage our time to benefit our mental health.

    1. Benefits of breaks
    2. Tales of tomorrow
    3. Plan of attack
    4. Mind and body
    5. Death by distractions

    Benefits of breaks

    It may seem like an insignificant action to prioritize, but the benefits of frequent, brief breaks to refresh and refocus our brains and vision can’t be understated.

    You may choose to implement the Pomodoro technique, which calls for a 25/5 routine: work focus for 25 minutes and take a five-minute break. Or you might find the research-backed 52/17 technique popular in 2014 best suited for you: for every 52 minutes of work, take 17 minutes off.

    What matters is that you discover the pattern that works best for your mind and integrate it into your work life.

    Related: 3 Proven Strategies on Taking Breaks That Will Help You Become More Productive

    Tales of tomorrow, tasks for today

    Whether it’s easier for you to start each morning mapping out what needs to be accomplished during the day ahead, or your brain prefers to write out the specifics of what the next day holds, what matters most is having a game plan to guide you throughout your days. Consider investing in a to-do list app or notebook to make it easier to create, edit and add to your list.

    Plan of attack

    Finding the calendar app that best suits your needs will go a long way in streamlining your work life, bringing structure and clarity while delivering ease of use. Researching the options on the market will help make the decision a simpler one. Beyond staples like Google, Outlook and Apple, there are plenty of possibilities, including Calendly, Any.do, Calendar and Fantastical.

    If your day-to-day, weekly or monthly obligations include extensive meetings and appointments, quality scheduling apps are available to smooth out an often arduous process.

    Mind and body

    Any effort to improve our ability to manage each day will go nowhere if our physical health is lacking. The mind can only accomplish as much as the body allows it to, so it’s critical to value our sleep, monitor our nutrition and exercise regularly.

    • Adopting healthy sleep habits requires intentionality, but experiencing consistent, quality rest can be transformative. According to the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a regular sleep schedule (Sunday through Saturday) maintains the body’s internal clock, streamlining its ability to both fall asleep and wake up more easily.
    • The health benefits of exercise are well known, but new research has highlighted the value of short, five to 10-minute workouts. If you struggle to fit exercise into your days, consider finding simple, hassle-free options to try.
    • Healthy eating doesn’t have to be overly complicated! A bit of research can yield many simple, straightforward tips, from portion control, flavor hacks and eating the rainbow, to weekly meal prep and the power of the slow cooker.

    Death by distractions

    Three words: Turn off notifications. From social media updates to news alerts, text messages and app alerts, our phones are a constant distraction — and they are only one part of a bigger picture of daily distractions, of which we all have unique challenges. Whether you choose to utilize Apple’s Focus Mode or the Android version, a variety of tools are available that can help you start to mitigate death by distractions.

    Related: How Are Time Management and Mental Health Related?

    Work-life balance benefits from time management skills, mental health focus

    Our ability to accomplish what needs to be taken care of in our professional lives depends heavily on the effort and energy we invest into mastering the art of time management. Similarly, taking steps to assess and improve one’s mental health goes a long way toward creating and sustaining a positive work-life balance.

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    Summit Ghimire

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  • His Events Bring More Than 10,000 People Together. His Secret to Success? Love.

    His Events Bring More Than 10,000 People Together. His Secret to Success? Love.

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    Bernardo Moya is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of Best You. As the creator of the Best You Expo, his events bring together more than 10,000 people, whether he does them in London or LA. He sat down with Jessica Abo to talk about how he got to where he is today, his new book, Man Evolving, and the number one thing he believes everyone needs to be successful in life and business.

    Jessica Abo: Bernardo, you’ve shared that responsibility has played a significant role in your life since you were a child. Please give us a sense of what that looked like.

    Bernardo Moya:

    My dad passed away when I was young when I was 15. Long before that, I was the captain of the football team. I was in charge of the class. I was a corporal in the army, so I always had that sense of responsibility.

    When my dad passed away, I was responsible for my brother and my mom, and it’s something that I’ve always felt that I would always instead lead than be led. I was always the designated driver as well. So I’ve always wanted to be in control to a certain degree. I’ve had some bosses in my life, and they were great, but I prefer to be my one. So that’s it. That’s where it came from.

    What were some of your first jobs?

    Moya:

    When I was young, I started teaching English because I was living in Spain, and then I became a DJ. Then I was running nightclubs before I got into real estate. I did so many different things, and then I had a construction company, but it was always with that idea in mind of wanting to do more and achieve more. But also with that sense of the reality of mortality. My dad passed away relatively young; he had so many things to do, and I wanted to make sure that I could achieve as much, if not a lot more than he did because of his age and the things I wanted to do.

    What did you learn as a nightclub promoter, and how does that show up for you in your life today?

    Moya:

    When I used to run parties, it was all about bringing people together to have fun. So we come up with an idea and a concept, and then we would go out there and get people. It was then the idea of building, creating things, and being very visual. Since my early years, that has helped me develop many of the skills I have now. And I always say that. I think a lot of times, we underestimate the teachings we learn and the process of growing, evolving, and reinventing ourselves. So it helped me in what I do today.

    What took you from promoting nightclub life to real estate life?

    Moya:

    I would love the idea of going and talking to someone and engaging with them and being confident and being charismatic or magnetic, whatever I could do to get people to either be interested in the properties or be interested in me, but also in what I was offering.

    So yes, I think that transition of me running those parties and then thinking and visualizing and seeing everything I wanted to build in the future, which was these events that I do now, are very interlinked.

    What happened in your real estate journey that made you lose it all?

    Moya:

    In Europe, we had two massive real estate bubbles. The first time I was 26, I shared that I had no money. I had a can full of coins, and I remember I had the last one and bought my son a tin of lentils. And the second one, I was 40.

    I’ve hit rock bottom several times, as low as you can. And from there, I’ve always found the strength to come back. I’ve always come back stronger and never let adversity knock me down.

    What got you out of that place?

    Moya:

    One of the things I am is resilient. I’ve had very dark days and bad situations, but I would always get up the next morning ready to fight again. And I would never look at the hole. I would be looking at where I am going and what I am doing. What am I aiming for? What can I do differently?

    So it was always around that, looking for the solution rather than focusing on the problem. So I think any wealthy or successful entrepreneur, millionaire, or billionaire would’ve told you that you’re not an entrepreneur unless you’ve lost your money a few times and hit rock bottom a few times, but it’s made me who I am.

    To what do you attribute your mental strength and clarity?

    Moya:

    What gave me the focus was NLP, Neuro-Linguistic Programming. I came across a book, Change Your Life in Seven Days, which got my attention. And then, I became a practitioner, a master practitioner, and a trainer. So in the process of me losing everything, NLP gave me a clear understanding. I wanted to do something different that had more meaning, which is what I do today.

    And then promoting came back into play.

    Moya:

    It did. That was it. From losing everything in real estate and seeing everything that I had, everything that I owned, and everything that I knew disappearing in front of me, I suddenly, standing in the middle of the room, understood I wanted to do something differently. And then this opportunity came to me, about which I could promote the man I was learning NLP, Dr. Richard Bandler.

    So I became his promoter out of the blue. And it was a big decision because I had to move countries. I had to leave my family at home. I commuted for three years, Monday to Friday, and I never promoted events but encouraged parties. I was good at marketing. I used to do that in real estate. Well, I built the world’s biggest NLP training company, NLP Life Training. And then, after that, I created The Best You.

    Where were you when you had this idea for Best You?

    Moya:

    I started identifying that it’s a very fragmented industry, where the greats do great things, but those that aren’t great, trying to evolve and become great, didn’t have a platform. So that’s where you could only go to the yoga show, you could go to the meditation show, you could see Tony Robbins, or you could go and see someone else. And I wanted to bring everyone together because personal, professional growth means many different things to many others.

    So I wanted to have something that was very anti-niche that brought anyone under a roof, and also give them stage time, which a lot of the time they didn’t have. And that’s where the whole idea of The Best You as a brand came from and all the different things I’ve done with The Best You.

    How does The Best You Expo work?

    Moya:

    I visualized, “Instead of running one seminar, why can’t I run five or six or eight or nine?” And that’s what I started doing. We now have nine stages: Room for Women, Empowering Women, Best for Business, Passion to Profit, and Inspiration zone, where we teach people how to dance or martial arts. We put that event together. And then the idea is also to have exhibitors share their expertise. And it was tough.

    The first one I did, I remember I didn’t sleep for four months. We worked hard. We had 3,000 attendees. I went to the door to see how many people were at the door, and there were 10, and six were in registration. I thought, “Oh my God, why has no one come?” And eventually, we had 3,000 people come up.

    Who comes to the Expo?

    Moya:

    It’s for anyone and everyone. It’s the holistic approach. I think to become a better human; there are many different aspects of life that you have to look into. You have to take care of yourself; you have to eat well, exercise, meditate, and be surrounded by the right people—positivity, learning new skills, being up-to-date with everything happening in apps and blockchain, and everything.

    Apart from that, it’s love. You have to be a loving individual and be open to love to become conscious of what’s happening in the world. That’s what The Best You means. So if you feel you are in that category, you should check The Best You Expo. That’s what it’s about.

    You say that love is the one thing that everybody needs more of, both in their life and in their business. And it’s also a huge reason why you wrote your latest book, Man Evolving. Could you tell us more about that?

    Moya:

    Love isn’t part of the conversation of many. So as a conduit, as the person that brings other people to the forefront and provides them a stage, I want to take that responsibility of encouraging them to share more love, to talk more about love, because we all know. We all have friends who suddenly get bad news, and priorities change instantly. And we continue to focus on entirely worldly things that have absolutely no value at all. And it’s only what we leave and what we do, and especially who we love and feel loved, that will be important at the end of our day. So anything and everything that we do has to be around love.

    So this book, A Man Evolving, is about my journey, but I’m trying to share it. I’m a man; I’ve made mistakes, many, and one of them is not being open enough and not being vulnerable enough. And we need to be able to come and step up and be honest and express love, most importantly. In this book, I open myself up, but it tries in a tiny way to encourage men and women to talk about love and express love.

    You also wrote a book called The Question; what questions can we ask ourselves daily, every quarter, to ensure that we are living our best lives?

    Moya:

    We all have an internal dialogue and a voice that runs in our heads. And it can be positive, or it can be damaging. And the quality of your life depends on the quality of the questions you ask yourself. Because the answer isn’t necessarily an answer. The answer is the question. So we have to look and get up in the morning, and what can I do today differently? How can I become a better human? How can I make a difference? Who can I touch today? Who can I love today? Who can I show some gratitude to? What am I grateful for?

    So the book asks those questions throughout the different sections and chapters. And I recommend people to have a notepad and ask them. So it was thought-provoking for me, and it was as thought-provoking as the fact that one of the questions I was asking towards the end of the book is, am I happy? What have I yet to do?

    I wasn’t happy because I wanted to do many things, but I felt I couldn’t. So I could only put myself to publish a book once I asked myself those tough questions. When I did and I acted, that’s when I posted the text.

    Finally, what’s next for you?

    Moya:

    To continue to talk about love, to continue to share the whole idea around being open and honest for us to be able to express our feelings. And I hope to share that on stages around the world. And I’m half Spanish, so speaking to the Spanish-speaking market is also essential. But apart from that, The Best You Expo. I want us to take this globally. We’ve got our conference happening in LA this year, and we intend to grow exponentially. I would like to see an event that hundreds of thousands of people attend, and I want this to be screened so millions of people can watch it and see it worldwide. And I want to have the opportunity for speakers and experts to share their expertise across the globe. So that’s my vision. And as long as I’ve got the strength, the nerve to go and do it, we’re going to do it.

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    Jessica Abo

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  • 8 Life Lessons I Wish I’d Known Sooner

    8 Life Lessons I Wish I’d Known Sooner

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Now that I’m in my 40s, I look back at my younger self and recognize how much unnecessary suffering I created for myself by not knowing these eight simple truths. I learned these life lessons the hard way. Discovering them transformed my entire existence. Today, I share them with you.

    1. Our power in life comes from focusing on what we can control, not what we can’t

    In life, unfortunate things happen. When they do, it can be easy or tempting to become reactive and focus on what isn’t going well. Many of us spend far too much time whining, complaining or venting about things we simply can’t control: weather, traffic, other people’s behavior, the past. Focusing on circumstances or things that are happening to us is far less effective than focusing on how we can respond to those things and what we can do about them. Avoid drama. Keep your focus on yourself and what more you can do, and you’ll almost always find a find to improve things.

    Related: Life Lessons: When You Hurt The Most, You Grow The Most

    2. Fear is only in our minds

    Fear is a product of our imagination. Usually, when we experience fear, we’re worried about something that may (or may not) happen in the future. Our power lies in focusing on our present reality. Fear tends to inhibit action, but action can overcome fear. So, one of the best ways to overcome fear (of anything) is to simply get into motion and take action. Don’t focus on the stories you tell yourself. Get out and do something about the things you’re nervous or anxious about.

    3. Failure is not the opposite of success — it’s part of it

    Most of us hate making mistakes or failing at anything. But making mistakes and failing is a huge part of our learning and growth process. When we err but take the time to find meaningful learning, our mistakes help us better ourselves and improve. They help us level up. Our mistakes are only failures if we choose to view them as failures. Winston Churchill said it best: “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm or energy.” That couldn’t be more true. It’s not how we fall, but how we pick ourselves back up that really matters. Find the learning, apply it and move on with love and compassion for yourself.

    4. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable

    When we’re uncomfortable, it often means that we’re challenging ourselves, stretching ourselves and trying something new. That’s how we grow! So, feeling uncomfortable is usually a sign that you’re making progress and evolving. Getting used to that feeling can help us do it more often and with less resistance. The best way to get comfortable with being uncomfortable is to practice it. Instead of shying away from discomfort, make the choice to lean into it. Look for ways to make yourself uncomfortable; seek those out and know how helpful they will be for you and your development.

    Related: 6 Things I’d Tell My 20-Year-Old Entrepreneur Self

    5. Find ways to not take offense to things

    Many of us go through life almost looking for reasons to be offended. This comes from our ego’s desire to protect ourselves and our beliefs. Our minds can play tricks on us and convince us that we’re “right” when we’re not. When we don’t like what we’re hearing or experiencing, it’s important to slow down and take the time to listen. Most miscommunications can be solved by simply seeking to understand others and alternative viewpoints or perspectives. Instead of judging people or things dissimilar to yourself, put acceptance there instead. Value differences. Having the strength to never take anything personally is essentially a superpower.

    6. Growth requires change

    A lot of us want to grow as people, but many of us are not willing to go through change to make it happen. That’s not how growth works. If we want what we’ve never had before, we must be willing to do things we’ve never done before. Muscles grow by repeatedly putting stress and tension on them; then letting them recover before doing it again. It’s the same with mental and emotional growth. If you’re not ever feeling any kind of tension or stress, then you’re probably not growing. Don’t just embrace change or be open to it, but actively seek it out.

    7. Focusing on what you love and are passionate about will lead to great happiness

    Too many of us do things out of obligation (we feel we ought to) or fear (we feel we must). Real success happens when we do things out of love or desire (we want to). When we engage with jobs, activities or people we truly love, it rarely feels like work. Seeking out things we are passionate about helps us feel more intrinsic motivation and that keeps us going through tough or challenging times. This is when we are most aligned with ourselves, and it feels good to be congruent with ourselves. That leads to joy and fulfillment with whatever we’re doing. It’s hard not be successful when you feel joy and fulfillment.

    Related: The 10 Best Life and Business Lessons I’ve Learned So Far

    8. Yesterday is heavy — put it down

    All too many of us are focused on the past, or what happened last month or last year. The past is written; set in stone. It cannot be changed. Focusing on it too much can be dangerous because it’s not within our circle of control. A former boss of mine used to say, “The past is interesting but nothing more.” The past can guide and instruct us, but it doesn’t determine our future or define us. Focusing on it too much takes us out of the present moment or our ability to plan for the future.

    Until I learned these lessons, my life was filled with unnecessary disappointments or frustrations. Underneath all these lessons is a simple concept: Nearly everything in life is a choice we make. As I began to choose better, my days filled up with far more joy. Try it.

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    Amy M Chambers

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  • How Global Digitization is Transforming Sports

    How Global Digitization is Transforming Sports

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Web2, Web3 and AI have allowed sports to move into a more digital space, and now they are completely changing how fans, athletes and coaches enjoy it.

    While the industry was already on a path toward more sophisticated tech, the isolation of the pandemic accelerated the need for better data collection and analysis tools for athletes and coaches. Now, sports tech has evolved far beyond simple wearables, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) for newer, better ways to play, practice and enjoy sports.

    Enter the metaverse: from practice to gameday, we’ll be playing online

    We can divide sports into four main categories: learn, play, watch and wear.

    Traditionally, learning comes from either one-on-one training sessions with a coach, mentor or instructor or through team practices. Those who don’t have access to teams or pickup games often hone their skills at home or in a community center gym, using whatever tools they have available.

    Playing encompasses everything from casual pickup games with neighborhood friends to amateur and professional leagues. The “watch” and “wear” categories apply to athletes and fans. Here, we’re talking about going to sporting events, watching live streams, playing in fantasy leagues, wearing team jerseys and purchasing sports equipment.

    Related: 8 Industries Being Disrupted by Virtual Reality

    In all four categories, a massive shift toward digitization is happening thanks to AR and VR technology, plus the growing popularity of AI and Web3.

    Now, athletes can train better with AI coaches. Apps like Level Up utilize ChatGPT to create helpful, accessible AI coaching, and artificial intelligence analytics tools like Athlete’s AI provide better performance analysis for more effective training.

    In addition, the evolution and growth of the metaverse are opening up new possibilities for a global athletic community that can play and compete together from anywhere in the world. It is also paving the way for brand-new sporting event experiences like future metaverse broadcasts, AR minigames in-stadium and, hopefully, immersive 3D viewing packages.

    Related: Why Apple is Primed to Take a Bite Out of Live Sports

    Better AI means better athletes

    Professional coaches and leagues have been using AI and ML to assist with training for years. However, the broader availability of AI tech means that amateur athletes and school-level coaches and trainers can leverage this technology to sharpen their practices and analyze player performance data even more effectively.

    In particular, augmented reality is an exciting new tool from which athletes can benefit considerably. For example, the ability to overlay objects (such as computer-generated players) onto a real-world court or field can help players who have to train alone.

    Other AR applications allow data to be incorporated into a real-world environment or pre-recorded videos so players and trainers can better understand play styles, movement patterns and potential mistakes in real time.

    For amateur leagues and coaches, VR and AR overlays can be used to study opposing teams’ footage to plan better defensive strategies before game day.

    Related: How Big-Name Sneaker Brands Are Racing Into the Metaverse

    Global digitization means global competition for amateur players

    In today’s world, younger generations have all grown up with smartphones and sophisticated technology since before they could walk. This means they are totally connected to the internet, and things like social validation and “leveling up” are essential parts of their lives.

    Rather than trying to change this, the digital shift helps society lean into these near-universal traits. Now, apps and communities exist globally so that people anywhere in the world can connect by playing or watching their favorite sports.

    Athletes can make progress posts or participate in competitive leaderboards and receive likes, comments and validation from other athletes. Fans can participate in group watch parties or live streams no matter where they live.

    This level of social validation is a critical component of the growth and evolution of the global sports community.

    Sports fans are also a vital part of the industry, and AR is already transforming how fans engage with their favorite sports. Most significant sports broadcasts are already embedding 3D graphics and using real-time AR overlays to provide better commentary and game analysis.

    Finally, fantasy sports have gained major traction recently, especially during the lockdown. Fantasy sports apps have already begun incorporating augmented reality to create more exciting experiences. The most popular company for this is AR Sports, which has a patented interactive experience reminiscent of other games like Pokemon Go.

    Related: Qatar-Based Sponix Tech Is Transforming How People Engage With Largescale Sporting Events

    Digital transformation helps sports tech unlock new and exciting achievements

    Web3 may still be in its earliest stages of development, but it is already expanding our minds and stretching the bounds of what we believed was possible.

    In sports tech, the uses for AI, ML and Web3 technologies like blockchain and the metaverse are nearly limitless. Whether you are an avid sports fan, an amateur player or a professional hopeful, team sports are becoming more digital and exciting than ever.

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    Eugene Lisovskiy

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  • 3 Ways to Rewire Your Brain to Make More Money

    3 Ways to Rewire Your Brain to Make More Money

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions?

    “Why can’t I earn more?”

    “Why does it seem as though less capable people wind up making so much money?”

    “Why do I feel stuck?”

    I’ve been asking myself an associated question lately: “How do I help my high-performing, highly capable entrepreneur friends break through their money-making and self-improvement barriers?” It simply amazes me how often I see creative and hard-working friends struggle to generate the kind of income they are deserving of.

    So I tasked myself to help and came up with actionable pieces of advice that not only identify problems but offer ways onward and upward.

    Fortunately, I’ve got a good friend who specializes in addressing these types of issues. Dr. Alok Trivedi (also known as “Dr. Rewire“) has spent the last 27 years of his professional life studying the deep connections between human minds’ “wiring” and personal performance. He’s identified no fewer than 92 scientifically backed techniques to help, quite literally, rewire the brain to become the best version of yourself.

    Here are a few I considered particularly pivotal in addressing the divide between abilities and success.

    Related: The Best Entrepreneurs Are Experts at Self-Improvement. Here’s How to Master That Skill.

    1. Go to the source of money-making problems

    You have likely heard a “villain origin story,” that trajectory-defining point in the life of a wrongdoer that put them on that path. Well, those of us who struggle with making money often have a negative story of our own.

    Dr. Trivedi explains: “Most individuals’ brains have default wiring that needs to be overcome to find greater success. This typically comes from earlier in our lives (it may be a moment or a string of moments) that created a pattern (or patterns) that ultimately becomes our behavior. Sometimes, this default wiring has created fear, paranoia, anxiety and/or chaos. Perhaps it was a divorce. Maybe it was bankruptcy or the way we were raised. Whatever the case, this wiring has resulted in an emotion, typically one of resentment, which plays out as our primary expression towards money. Because of this resentment, we’ll push away deals, opportunities or work, thus creating a money-making barrier.”

    Trivedi adds that the best way to know if you have such default wiring is to analyze your feelings and circumstances. Do you feel stuck? Have you hit an income plateau? Do you fear the future? These are all dynamics that need to be taken seriously, and once they are recognized, it’s vital to search for related past experiences. Typically, you can identify these on your own, though it may be wise to seek out a professional’s assistance.

    Related: Show Me the Money. The 4 Principles of Success and Wealth Accumulation

    2. Find clarity

    Once you’ve identified what’s created negative wiring, it’s time to confront it. While this can create uncomfortable feelings, that step is critical to begin the process of change.

    “Once we’ve identified [that] source, it’s time to get clarity,” Trivedi says, “and we get that by looking at both sides of the experience, positive and negative. We must ask ourselves these questions: What negative feelings have I been holding onto as a result of this experience? How [has] this resentment actually helped me grow in life (if at all)? What good may have come from it? It’s incredibly important to realize that these experiences can be just as much a good thing as bad.”

    If we can examine past events in this way, from both sides, we give ourselves perspective, which is a key element in helping our brains rise above emotions — detaching them from the fallout of experience.

    Related: How to Develop Mental Resilience for Greater Success

    3. Gratitude leads to action

    This step may seem odd initially (it did to me at first), but a powerful question to consider is, “Should I feel gratitude for these sources of resentment?” The more I understood the power of gratitude, the more I appreciated it as a catalyst that allows us to move on to money-making goals.

    “Finding gratitude quite literally changes our DNA,” Trivedi says. “It begins with our emotions, which are freed from whatever negative pattern they’ve been in — but only once we find and feel gratitude. This changes our beliefs — moving our brains out of the amygdala (fight-or-flight center) and reconnecting them to the executive center of the brain. The moment this happens, a switch flips and organization occurs: We begin planning, creating and changing. The future suddenly looks bright, and we understand what path we need to walk to get there.”

    This is the beautiful process, Trivedi adds, of rewiring the brain through integration. Once this is done successfully, old patterns end, and new ones start. And, hopefully, your new pattern will be one of creativity, wealth creation and ceiling-shattering.

    Related: Why Gratitude Makes Leaders More Effective

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    Randy Garn

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  • Save on Best-Selling Jewelry This Valentine’s Day

    Save on Best-Selling Jewelry This Valentine’s Day

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    Valentine’s Day is coming up, which marks another annual test for countless couples out there. For entrepreneurs trying to jump-start their own businesses, figuring out the balance between showing off for your loved one and finding a cost-effective gift can be tricky.

    Helping shoppers with high-end taste afford better buys, Jaxxon is holding a 20 percent off sitewide sale through 2/14. To save on Jaxxon jewelry between now and then, all you need to do is check out with promo code VDAY20. Across its impressive selection, you’ll find more than enough buys to impress your special someone.

    Here are a couple of our favorite recommendations:

    Cuban Link Chain — 5mm men’s gold Cuban chain: Coated three times in real gold, this bright and shiny piece of jewelry is a best seller for Jaxxon, and for good reason. Elevate your partner’s look with this fantastic chain that comes in multiple sizes. The thickness of Jaxxon’s gold-bonded pieces is three to five times the average amount found in gold plating, so the quality is reliable.

    Women’s jewelry: In addition to Jaxxon’s fantastic selection of bracelets, rings, and pendants — Jaxxon also carries an impressive selection of similar buys for women, too. One of the bestselling women’s pieces on Jaxxon is the Rope Chain Bracelet. Other popular women’s jewelry pieces on the platform include Cuban Link bracelets, chains, as well as those with herringbone and paper clip designs.

    Overall, Jaxxon is a remarkably reliable and well-known source for this year’s Valentine’s Day shopping. The marketplace has earned an average rating of 4.6/5 stars from more than 34,000 reviewers on Trustpilot.

    Among the many five-out-of-five-star reviews, one customer named Ivy recently wrote, “Jaxxon has undeniably beautiful jewelry.” If you need help with anything, the team at Jaxxon is also known for its strong support. Another recent five-star review by a woman named Francheska reads,” The exchange process was so easy, and the representatives responded in a timely manner…Definitely will be purchasing more from this company in the future.”

    Don’t forget — now through February 14th, you can save 20 percent off sitewide with Jaxxon for a special Valentine’s Day Sale using promo code VDAY20.

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    StackCommerce

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  • What Is Sustainable Fashion? Everything You Need To Know.

    What Is Sustainable Fashion? Everything You Need To Know.

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    At its base level, sustainability refers to practicing productive habits that contribute toward a cleaner, healthier environment to combat climate change. Anyone can practice sustainability, even the fashion world.

    Is there fashion that is not sustainable? How can such a large industry operate sustainably? What would that look like? Keep reading to find out more.

    The evolution of the fashion industry: From handmade to fast fashion

    The fashion industry is unavoidable. Some struggle to access clothing, some wear it out of necessity and others use it as a luxury or form of expression. No matter the situation, the fashion industry touches everyone’s lives and has for centuries.

    There was a time when people made clothes by hand, often with fabric and a needle.

    As times evolved, people began to turn to local artisans and craftsmen for clothing throughout different seasons of the year. Once the Industrial Revolution hit in the 1800s, everything changed.

    The widespread use of machines to create clothing made it faster and more accessible to more classes than ever before. Eras and decades became known for iconic looks that are cemented in history.

    The one evolution that affected fashion even more than the Industrial Revolution was the internet boom of the late 90s and early 2000s. Ecommerce changed the fashion landscape forever, and fast fashion burst onto the scene — leaving its mark on the environment.

    Related: Emerging And Sustainable Fashion Industry In 2022

    Fast fashion and its environmental impact

    Fast fashion: The rundown

    Fast fashion is the business model that mass produces clothes — generally, copycats of runway looks — through a cheap and expedited supply chain to get the latest styles into the hands of buyers as quickly as possible.

    Due to the swift production process, workers are often exposed to poor working conditions, cheap labor and toxic materials.

    The fast fashion industry has shouldered much blame for adverse environmental effects. While this part of the industry is not innocent, what has happened with fast fashion is a trickle-down effect from the luxury industry.

    The trends that are made in fast fashion are simply copycats of runway looks. Once a look premiers on the runway, fast fashion companies mass-produce copycat looks at a fraction of the price in a matter of weeks.

    The problem? These clothes are produced with cheap fabrics, like polyester, and are colored with toxic textiledyes.

    Fast fashion: Polyester and pollution

    Polyester is a synthetic fabric made chiefly from petroleum, a fossil fuel that releases harmful carbon emissions. It is now the most commonly used textile fiber in the world, surpassing cotton.

    Polyester is no small player in the fashion industry — the market for this material is projected to reach $174.7 billion over the next ten years.

    In addition to that, polyester is not easy to manufacture. It takes a considerable amount of energy to produce, and in 2015, a reported 282 tons of carbon dioxide were used during polyester production.

    This mass production of harmful materials makes the fashion industry the world’s second-largest contributor to air and water pollution.

    The entire industry is part of a chain reaction that begins with toxic materials that shed microfibers and microplastics into water and air, causing harmful pollution to humans, animals and the entire ecosystem.

    Related: Is Air Pollution Making You Dumb?

    Fast fashion: Here today, in a landfill tomorrow

    Because fast fashion is produced so quickly, trends change rapidly. When it’s time to trade in a new trend for the old, the lifecycle of a piece of clothing does not simply end.

    According to the EPA, U.S. clothing waste amounted to 13 million tons in 2018. Up to 70% of that waste ended up in landfills rather than being recycled. This waste comes from both companies and individuals.

    What is sustainable fashion?

    Unsustainable fashion is a massive portion of the industry. However, some companies have moved toward more sustainable practices to contribute positively to the world’s environment.

    Sustainable fashion, or “slow fashion,” is an umbrella term that includes companies, products, employees and practices.

    It refers to practices geared towards paying a proper living wage to garment workers, reducing the carbon footprint and eventually achieving net zero operations to positively affect the environment and society.

    A carbon footprint is the level of harmful greenhouse gasses any entity produces. To achieve net zero, operations must eliminate dangerous products that produce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change.

    Related: Is Sustainability the Future Of Modern Fashion Industry?

    4 reasons sustainable fashion matters

    1. Creates less waste

    Waste would decrease significantly if the entire fashion industry moved to more sustainable practices. The issue with fast fashion is that low-quality materials, like polymers, are weakened with wash and wear.

    Once this clothing is used, it cannot be upcycled and turned into a new piece of clothing. As these materials decompose in landfills, which can take up to 200 years, they produce a greenhouse gas called methane.

    If the fashion industry used more sustainable materials for clothing, discarded clothing could be reproduced into a different garment and continue that lifecycle rather than starting all over.

    2. Reduces harmful emissions

    Often when emissions are involved, what might come to mind are factories that have visible smoke coming out of them. While that is not the wrong picture, it is not the only picture.

    The fashion industry produces a vast carbon footprint because of how much energy it takes to create the raw materials and the materials used.

    Some startling numbers about the fashion industry’s operations include:

    • 70 million trees are cut down each year.
    • 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 are produced each year.
    • 70 million barrels of oil are used each year.

    Sustainable fashion is vital because natural fabrics made from biodegradable materials do not require using so many resources.

    3. Conserves water

    The unsustainable part of the fashion industry not only uses an excessive amount of water but has also been proven to pollute water.

    The industry uses 93 billion metric tons of water each year, and on top of that, the pesticides used to make clothing are often found in nearby runoffs that pollute local water, which then makes its way into lakes, rivers and oceans.

    Sustainable fashion reduces this pollution by:

    • Creating water budgets that limit water usage during production.
    • Prioritizing organic, non-toxic, natural materials that do not need water or contribute toxins to runoffs.

    4. Preserves the ecosystem

    Once toxic chemicals make it into the water, it affects the whole ecosystem. Animals that drink the contaminated water may become sick, and the animals that eat those animals might become ill. This continues through the food chain until those now toxic animals also reach a human dinner table.

    Sustainable fashion brands are doing what it takes to use chemical-free, sustainable fabrics and better monitor their water pollution.

    In addition, many brands have also vowed to remain vegan and cruelty-free, meaning they use leather and fur alternatives so that no materials come from animals to preserve the ecosystem’s biodiversity.

    3 ways the fashion industry can become more sustainable

    The fashion industry must do its part to create sustainable clothing and help promote healthier habits for a better planet. The good news is that many strategies can help companies play their part.

    1. Watch the waste

    15% of fabric is wasted, simply ending up on the floor and getting discarded. Many designers are implementing new practices to combat overproduction.

    These strategies include:

    • Geometric concepts that use every inch of fabric.
    • Creating garments out of the scraps.
    • 3D virtual sampling.
    • AI product image analytics.
    • Mobile body scanning to fit more body types.

    2. Be intentional with materials

    Technological advances and discoveries continue to make many more resources available for sustainable use. Many designers and companies have committed to using sustainable materials that are both recyclable and much more sustainable in the manufacturing process.

    You can receive specific certifications for recycled, low-waste, biodegradable or otherwise sustainable materials.

    Sustainable materials include:

    • Hemp.
    • Ramie.
    • Regenerative cotton (and some organic cotton).
    • Textiles from agricultural waste.
    • Cupro.
    • Fibers from kapok tree pods.
    • Kelp.
    • Microbial bioleather.
    • Other biodegradable textiles using synthetic biology.

    Related: Technology Provides a Solution To Pace Down Plastic Pollution

    3. Upcycle, thrift and rent

    Upcycling, in any context, means reusing and repurposing materials to make something new. The fashion industry refers to repurposing used garments or garment materials to create an entirely new piece of clothing.

    Upcycling fashion can be eco-friendly by reducing waste, reusing materials that might otherwise decompose in a landfill and reducing toxic emissions caused by manufacturing and transport.

    Related: All That Litters Can Be Gold, According to McDonald’s. The Fast Food Chain Is Designing Jewelry — With Your Trash.

    One of the great hopes of the future is the love that Gen Z has for thrifting. Thrifting is no new concept; however, much of the Gen Z generation has taken to it in another move toward being an environmentally and socially conscious generation.

    Many members of Gen Z report loving the secondhand thrifting process not only because it is an affordable form of expression (think third-hand t-shirts from the 80s that are just now coming back into style), but because it is a way to fight back against fast fashion.

    Renting clothes is a concept that has become more popular in the last couple of decades, so data has gone back and forth on whether it is a more sustainable option.

    While it does mean that clothing has a longer lifespan, it also means more transportation which leads to toxic emissions. However, in 2021 Rent the Runway, a popular rental site, reported that through their operations over the last decade, they were able to:

    • Displace production of 1.3 million new garments.
    • Save 67 million gallons of water.
    • Save 98.6 million kilowatt-hours of energy.
    • Eliminate 44.2 million pounds of CO2 emissions.

    Related: Renting Is Back in Style

    The most sustainable fashion brands

    If you’re interested in shifting your shopping as a consumer or creating more sustainable practices for your retailer business, check out some big brands that aren’t just greenwashing — they’re paving the way in sustainable fashion operations.

    1. Patagonia

    Patagonia has made sustainable fashion its mission. One of its most significant initiatives is its self-imposed Earth tax, which allocates 1% of its sales back to the environment through nonprofits and environmental groups.

    The company is also dedicated to producing less waste, using less water, consuming less energy and recycling or upcycling gear.

    2. Naadam

    This brand focuses on creating luxury cashmere sweaters made from 100% renewable or recycled sources. Naadam is also dedicated to being transparent with its customers in practicing sustainability.

    3. Allbirds

    Allbirds is a shoe company committed to comfortable products with the environment in mind. They have two big goals: to cut their environmental footprint in half by 2025 and be as close to carbon neutral as possible by 2030. Allbirds uses sustainable materials that include:

    • Wool.
    • Tree.
    • Sugar.
    • Trino.
    • TrinoXO.

    Why sustainable fashion matters for you

    While the fashion industry has a long way to go, brands are doing their part to participate in ethical fashion. Sustainability takes commitment, hard work and often completely altering operations.

    However, there are science and systems of operations that promote sustainable practices. Consumers and companies must work together to reduce waste and promote sustainable fashion practices to make a better environment for everybody.

    Ready to learn more about sustainability? Check out Entrepreneur.com for information on pollution, the environment and more.

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    Entrepreneur Staff

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  • The Secret to Achieving Your Resolutions

    The Secret to Achieving Your Resolutions

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    During this time of year, a popular topic is always setting New Year’s resolutions. You’ll find tons of articles on how to set goals, how to stay on track and even how to get back on track if you lose focus. These are all important considerations. But sometimes we need to go deeper to be effective. Sometimes we need to know not just what we want to do and how we should do it, but why.

    It’s easy to say that you want to live a healthier lifestyle. That’s the “what.” And it is easy to resolve that you want to accomplish this by eating healthier, exercising more and attending to more self-care. That’s the general “how-to.” And you can break down each of these steps into detail in pursuit of your goal. But the third critical step in the equation for long-term success is often to ask and answer why this is a goal.

    Related: 10 New Year’s Resolutions Entrepreneurs Should Make Every Year

    Answer the “why”

    Answering the “why” gives purpose and meaning to not only the goal itself, but to all of the effort you will be putting in to achieve it. It’s the motivation and inspiration behind every healthy meal, every trip to the gym, every book you read and anything else you take the time to do to live a healthier lifestyle. And it is often what we fail to articulate when setting New Year’s resolutions.

    There are lots of reasons why one might want to lead a healthier lifestyle — more energy, to look and feel better, to be able to participate in long-dormant activities, to model healthier behavior for our loved ones, to live longer. The list is seemingly endless, and no one reason is more important than the other. It is about what is important to the individual. But knowing the reason why and clearly articulating it to yourself is vitally important. It serves as a constant reminder and motivator. It allows you to effectively share it with others. And it serves to help remove or avoid distractions that get in your way.

    Making more money is a common resolution. People want to be better compensated for the work they do; they want to feel more appreciated; they want better financial security. Again, all good reasons to want to achieve this goal. But dig deeper — what is truly at the heart of why you want to make more money? What is the next layer? Do you want to be able to start saving and investing toward retirement? Do you want to reduce stress? Do you want to start saving for a college fund or a house? Why exactly is more money important to you? What is at the heart of your goal?

    Related: 3 Science-Backed Ways to Break Bad Habits

    How to maximize your results

    Resolutions should not be an isolated endeavor. In fact, studies show that sharing your goals with others and engaging others in the ongoing pursuit of your goals yields a much higher likelihood of success. So, there are five critical questions we should ask to maximize the results we want to achieve:

    Question 1: Why is this resolution truly important to me? Go deep, and be honest with yourself.

    Question 2: How do I make this happen? This should be the specific steps you need to implement. This often comes down to forming positive habits and/or replacing bad habits. It is about discipline and accountability. You need to identify these things in a clear and precise manner before moving on to question 3.

    Question 3: Who should be on your team? There is no special award for doing things on your own, and asking for help or partnering with others does not diminish your success. At its core, life is about the relationships we build along our journey, and embracing a team for your goals is just another opportunity to forge new bonds. Your team member(s) should be people who are supportive, honest and can directly contribute to the steps you have spelled out in question 2.

    Question 4: When am I honestly ready to start? Pursuing goals is not a linear process without its share of challenges along the way. But momentum is a real thing, and you do not want to start knowing it is not an ideal time to do so. It is vital to ensure you are in the right mindset to begin. That is why the first three questions are so important. But, simultaneously, do not look for excuses or reasons to put off your start. There is no such thing as a perfect time. It is when you decide you are ready and committed.

    Question 5: What comes next? There is a natural feeling of accomplishment when you reach a goal, often followed by a bit of a letdown because you have been focused on one thing for so long that it now begs the question of what comes next. This is why resolutions or goals should be seen as lifestyle changes rather than start-to-finish tasks. You can tell yourself, “I want to lose 10 pounds.” You can identify why and who is on your team and how you are going to accomplish it. But in reality, the loss of the weight should be a result of a change in a lifestyle choice that survives the benchmark of the weight loss.

    The healthier eating, exercising, etc. that got you to that goal is now a new lifestyle for you. The same concept can be applied if you want to save $100,000 for a house. When you implement a strategy of saving and investing to achieve this goal and bring in the right people to help, there is no reason to stop once you have reached the initial goal. It is a newly formed lifestyle choice you have developed.

    Ultimately, the real secret to resolutions is that the process you go through to achieve the goal becomes a permanent part of your lifestyle.

    Related: Why Most New Year’s Resolutions Fail and What You Should Do Instead

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    John Peitzman

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