Page 148 - The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
P. 148

Answering	 emails,	 taking	 phone	 calls,	 and	 sitting	 in	 meetings	 have	 a	 way	 of
taking	 over	 your	 schedule	 and	 rarely	 lead	 to	 making	 major	 improvements	 in	 your
life.	For	your	own	happiness	and	to	protect	the	time	necessary	to	focus	on	the	deep
work,	the	first	few	hours	of 	your	day	must	be	grabbed	by	you,	for	you.	Fight	for	it.

    If 	you	work	on	two	things	you	consider	important,	you	are	making	progress	on
projects	that	matter—and	are	winning	the	long	game.

    Waking	up	early	and	planning	out	your	day	has	huge	benefits.	Just	ask	Mari:

    By	 jumpstarting	 his	 mornings	 with	 early	 wakeups	 (no	 snooze!),	 checklists,	 and
rituals,	 he	 has	 been	 able	 to	 take	 control,	 set	 his	 priorities	 straight	 and	 find	 time	 to
start	working	on	a	new	book.	I	followed	up	a	few	weeks	later,	asking	Mari	how	the
morning	ritual	was	going:

    That’s	amazing,	Mari,	day	#54	of 	being	a	boss.	Tony	did	the	same	and	found
his	“way	back	into	the	gym	every	morning	at	5a!”:

    I	know	it’s	hard	to	get	up	that	early	and	get	right	into	a	workout,	but	when	you
5-	4-	3-	2-	1	to	find	the	activation	energy	to	beat	those	feelings	of 	resistance,	you
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