One of the most commonly recurring words in my writing and in my speaking is “FREEDOM.” I want ULTIMATE freedom. Freedom to work according to my own preferences… freedom to work where, when and with whom I want… freedom to charge what I’m worth…
But, one of the quotes that changed my life came from Steve Chandler. He said, “Only the disciplined are free.”
There IS, in fact, a sexy little tryst between discipline and freedom. The truth is if I were to just wake up and do whatever I FELT like doing each and every day… listening to my emotions… and then doing ONLY what I felt INSPIRED to do… Well, I’d create no momentum, and I’d NEVER reach my full potential.
Only the disciplined are free.
Somewhere along the way, I REALLY embraced this truth. And I realized that if I wanted to CREATE the freedom that I craved, I’d have to be DISCIPLINED.
When I’m disciplined with my exercise and nutrition… I’m free to enjoy my clothes, and even free to enjoy a delicious chocolate torte from time to time.
When I’m disciplined with my writing… I’m free to enjoy the FRUITS of my work, including the fact that my writing now makes MONEY each and every day. Without the discipline to show up every day, though… and I show up like a bunch of other “gurus,” you know… when “inspiration strikes.”
With all of this in mind, I wanted to walk you through how to create your OWN success routine. 
Step 1: BRAIN DUMP.
Like backing up a computer before you install a new operating system… you want to write out ALL of your “TO DOs.” Just write out all the things on your mind…. what you want to do, what you feel you have to do, what you feel you MUST do.
Write out the things you KNOW will — if you made them a habit — move your business dramatically forward. (You know, the things you never quite GET to…)
Be SURE to write out the things that aren’t business related too, of course. Your routine should take care of YOU and all of YOUR most important things. So, if working out is important, write it down. Time with kids? Write it down. Date nights? Write it down.
Step 2: SCRIPT YOUR MAGIC MORNING.
Mornings ARE quite magical. They are when you are most pure, most untainted by the world, most “your own,” before the rest of the world seeps in and dilutes your focus…
So, it makes sense create a routine that makes the ABSOLUTE MOST of your mornings. I begin every single day in the same way. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year.
Coffee. (Because without it, I admit, I’m toast.)
Bible.
Journal / Prayer.
Messaging. (Weekdays, I publish my content via live streams and blogs… Weekends, my messaging is focused on other projects like whatever book I’m writing.)
Family Time. (I know it’s the 1950s of me, but I like being fully available to my family as they get ready for their day… sending them all off with a smile.)
Sales activity.
Paid Content. (Like for my Women Who WOW members.)
What I love MOST about my morning routine is that if I did NOTHING else, I’ve gotten the most important things done. I COULD stop every single day by about 10:30 AM and probably not see much of a drop in income, impact OR influence.
So, script YOUR OWN magic morning routine with only ONE rule: Everything in your magic morning routine MUST light you up.
Step 3: SCHEDULE YOUR OTHER NON-NEGOTIABLES.
For me, this list includes:
Client work.
Email responses.
Straightening the house.
Movement and/or Meal Prep.
But what about YOU? What are other non-negotiables that didn’t make the cut for your magic morning routine?
Step 4: ASK YOURSELF: IS EVERYTHING I LOVE AND EVERYTHING I NEED COVERED IN MY ROUTINE SO FAR?
If not, fix that friend.
Step 5: Give yourself ONE HOUR — maximum — per day of things you DO NOT LOVE.
Things like checking in with your team, responding to emails (if that’s not your thing… I happen to LOVE emails.), going over income/expenses, etc.
So, that’s it…
This isn’t about a schedule.
It’s about a ROUTINE.
It’s about doing the BIG stuff…
the most important stuff…
the stuff you LOVE…
daily,
on repeat.
Because, you know,
only the disciplined are free.
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