My name is Gerard Adams, I am an angel investor based in the US. I became a self-made millionaire by the age of 24. Here are seven ways that I make meaningful efforts to stay on top of my own rising:
1.Positive thinking.
Your mind dictates your reality. What you think is what you will experience. Science has proven our ability to rewire our own brains, through changing our thought patterns and engaging in practices like meditation [it’s called neuroplasticity.] So, that’s a thing. Why would you not take advantage of the fact that you can literally program yourself for success? Positive thinking is imperative. Nobody is going to be positive 100 percent of the time, we’re human, but making an effort to shift your perspective consistently is going to impact your life in ways you can’t imagine. Believe you can and you will. It’s true. Pep talk yourself. Marcus Aurelius and I are both into it.
2. Practice what you preach.
Nobody trusts someone who doesn’t walk their talk. And you can tell when someone is off of their authenticity game. Execute. Don’t just talk about it. Be it. Every. Single. Day. Make plans, and crush them. If you don’t get through your whole to do list, it’s no worries — what matters is that you show up for those ideas and plans every day. Take it seriously, a little pressure on yourself is healthy, but also know that it’s a daily practice of showing up big.
3. Greet the day.
Get up with the people, or before. Rising at noon because you don’t have to be at an office is actually not impressive. You don’t have to start working early if it doesn’t suit you, but humans are built to rise when the sun wakes up — so make an effort to be more human, and not only will your days feel much easier [because you have more time in them.] but you’ll have time to yourself before the insanity of building your empire begins. This morning time is key. It’s a great time to exercise or move your body, power up with healthy eats, and get your mind right. How you prepare for each day adds up. If you were running for president, would you jump right into election day, without any campaigning, with sweatpants on, having slept in until 1 p.m.? Nope. Get up, get after it.
4. Embrace collaboration.
Success is never exclusively self-made. That’s actually a big, annoying lie. While we can be responsible for the dreams that led us to great success, hence the title of this article, we never get where we’re going alone. We really need each other, we need mentors, we need community. Going it alone will dig you deep into a big hole.Additionally, you need a team. Being a solopreneur is great as long as it suits you in the beginning, but trying to do everything by yourself when you grow to the point that it’s really stressing you out is no way to run a business. A leader does not solely lead his/her own life, but also leads others on the path to greatness.
5. Consistency is key.
This is important not just in your personal life, but also as far as business goes. Consistency is how you build following and presence, but it’s also how you create results. It’s easy to get distracted, but you can teach yourself to starve your distractions and feed your focus. This is one of the key ways I’ve leaned up my time to make my success even more inevitable. Focus on what’s important — not comparing yourself to others or worrying too much about the future. Focus on what you can do today, right now, for yourself and where you’re going.