62. Be Wise, Early Rise
I gave the keynote address at a conference for the leadership team of the telephone baking division of CIBC yesterday. Great group. CIBC is one of Canada’ s leading banks and the audience was full of energy, passion and intelligence. I shared my ideas on building a high – performance culture, developing deeper relationships and the power of leading without title. Then I offered some insights on personal leadership – beginning with the imperative of getting up early if one wants to get to world class as a human being. The room fell silent. Thought I’ d lost them.
I love connecting personally with audience members and happily stayed after my presentation to answer questions. Amazing how many people asked me what they needed to do to build the early rising habit.“ I loved your point about taking a‘ holy hour’ each morning – 60 minutes to feed my mind, care for my body and develop my character,” said another.“ Life is passing by so quickly,” noted yet another,“ I really need to start getting up earlier to get more from my days.”
It’ s so easy to forget that our outer lives reflect our inner lives and that by getting up earlier each day to do some internal work. Our days will become dramatically better. How can you be a positive source of energy to those around you when you have no energy? How can you develop the best in others if you haven’ t connected with the best within yourself? And how can you champion another person if you fail to see the champion in you? Getting up early to do your inner work, enlarge your thinking, to sharpen your life’ s philosophy or to review your goals is not a waste of time. That‘ holy hour’ infuses every remaining minute of your day with a perspective that elevates each area of your life. It’ ll transform you. Make you better as a leader. As a parent. As a human being. Here are six practical tactics to help you get up early( 5 a. m. is nice):
Don’ t eat after 7 P. M. You will sleep more deeply as well as more sweetly. It’ s the quality, not the quantity, of sleep that’ s most important.
Don’ t Lounge in Bed after your alarm clock goes off. Jump out of bed and start your day. The more time you lie in bed after the alarm clock goes off, the greater the likelihood that the chatter of your mind will say something like,“ Stay in bed. Sleep a bit more. The bed is warm. You deserve it.”
Get into world – class physical condition This is a big idea. I find that when I am in excellent physical shape – working out five to six times a week and eating ultra – well – it is easy to jump out of bed at 5 a. m. or even 4 a. m. Being superbly fit is a brilliant move that will positively influence every area of your life.
Set BHAG’ s Jim Collins coined the term“ BHAGs,” meaning Big Hairy Audacious Goals, in his book Built to Last. Goals breathe life and energy into your days. Most people don’ t get up early because they have no reason to. The secret of passion( and getting up early) is purpose. Goals inspire you and give you something to get out of bed for each morning. Taking out your journal and articulating 10-, 5-, 30, and 1 – year goals for the core dimensions of your life will focus your mind and drive tremendous results. It will light a fire in your belly and flood you with passion.
Set your alarm clock 30 minutes fast. I shared this point at a recent“ Awakening Best Self Weekend,” a workshop where people come from all around the world to learn how to break through their fears and live their greatest lives. I just got an email from one participant from Spain. This little trick has completely