Self discipline is the key in a leader’s life. A system should be developed so that the maximum level of performance energy can be achieved. One has to manage oneself first. For this we need to fine tune ourselves both physically and mentally. Setting good habits are very important and it directly results in positiveness and optimistic vision.
Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time leading yourself-your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers. If you don’t understand that you work for your mislabeled ‘subordinates,’ then you know nothing of leadership. You know only tyranny.
– Dee Hock
Founder and CEO Emeritus
VISA International
Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life. – James Allen
Bring a system in your life
Wake up early
Most leaders wake up early. In doing so they have lot more time to organize and feed their mind & body with positive energy. History is the example; look into the life of great leaders they not only wake early in the morning but also have a proven system. Too much sleeping makes you dopey. It won’t fresh you up, rather it tires you.
You can use your word power and command yourself to get up early. Let’s see the power of words. Imagine that you are in an orangery, where you have so many oranges around you. You pluck a big ripe one out of the tree, wash it. Look at the skin, brilliant orange colour. Squeeze it a little and feel its firmness, you know its soft inside, there will be lot of juice inside, it’s fresh. Raise it near your nose, smell it, nothing smells quite like an orange. Peal off its skin, now you get its full smell, the odor is stronger and there is a slight burning feeling in your eyes. You close your eyes. Now take a piece of it and taste it, the juice swirls around your mouth. Really, nothing tastes like an orange.
At this instant if you have imagined properly your mouth will be watering. Yes, words have watered your mouth. When you read the above paragraph your brain thought you are having an orange and it triggered the salivary glands to wash it away with saliva. It wasn’t real but words created reality like the flow of saliva. The brain is in charge of our body; it controls the working of each part of the body. Here you tell the brain that you are eating an orange and it goes to work. So words are powerful and your brain obeys them. So watch out, if you have a negative attitude and you use negative words or you listen to negative advice, then your brain will respond to it negatively.
So make it a habit to listen to motivational cassettes or videos or books and bless your mind with fresh energy daily.
Now let’s make use of word power and self command technique in Ted’s life (case study). Ted wants to get up early but every day when the alarm ring he switches it off and dozes off to glory. One thing he can do is, keep the alarm away from him, so that he needs to get up to switch it off. Place a note in front of the alarm. The words should be: ‘Ted you have to get up now and get your system trained to be a winner. And it’s an order to the brain. Get up Ted’. Read this loudly and let your ears listen and your brain hear it. Signals will be sent to the brain and in few days time you won’t need an alarm to get up on time. I would advise you to read the above words before sleeping also, because in that way you are, preprogramming your brain to get up early. Smart people customize the words and become a winner. You can also put your vision or mission statement along with the words so that you are focused on daily bases.
Sleep well and wake up naturally before the alarm rings.
Energize your mind & body
Get up early, devote some time for yourself, do some mind and body exercises. I would recommend yoga, a walk in the park, swimming, stretch exercises, jogging and even dancing. If you love games like badminton or tennis go a head and play a round. But don’t play too much and get your self exhausted. Refresh your mind by listening to music, watch nature, sceneries from your balcony or any form of meditation.
Our mind has a deep relationship with our body. It is important to do some mind and body exercises. Mind exercises put your mind at top gear. Now what are mind exercises?
It is well known that during our life time we utilize only a small part of our brain cells. There are lots of inactive brain tissues and neuronal junctions out there, just waiting for us to activate, nurture and develop them! My uncle Dr.Hanish Babu introduced me to Neurobics. Quoting from his article:
Neurobics is a unique system developed by Lawrence C.Katz, professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical Centre. These are a series of innovative brain exercises that make use of our five senses and the emotional sixth sense to brush up brain and neuronal activity on both sides of the brain. Usually right handed people utilize left side of brain for all their conscious, voluntary activities. The brain exercises devised by Prof.Katz help stimulate the release and uptake of acetyl choline and other neuro-transmitters both at muscular and neuronals junctions in the body and the brain.
Here are a few brain exercises (Neurobics) you can practice daily:
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Use more than one of your senses in an everyday task:
(a)Button your shirt and cuff links with your eyes closed.
(b)In the shower, spread the foam on your body with eyes closed.
(c) While eating use visual signals to communicate.
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Combine two of your senses while doing a task:
(a) Feel the fragrance of a flower, see the beauty of the flower and listen to music at the same time.
(b) Close your eyes listen to the rain outside and run your fingers alongside the chair, table or your clothes and feel the texture of the wood and the textile.
(c) Watch the scenery from the balcony and do clay modeling at the same time.
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Alter the beaten path!
(a) Take a new route to your office.
(b) Brush with your opposite hand.
(c) Shop at a new grocery.
(d) Use a different hand on your mouse!
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Reading, Chess, Sudoku and Crosswords
(a) Reading, doing crossword puzzles or sudoku, playing scrabble or chess etc is all very good brain neuronal stimulants.
(b) A new hobby or learning a new language will also exercise your brain. Watch less TV though, instead of putting your mind in forward drive, your brain will go into neutral during the soaps!
(c) Playing bingo has been found to bolster memory and improve hand eye coordination in the elderly.
- Refresh yourself in the morning by a wake up call to the brain and the body! (The Neurobic Exercises)
The skin of our feet, soles, hands and palms have got millions of nerve endings and nerve pathways traversing the muscles underneath. These nerve pathways are also in communication with most of our internal organs. Hence it is very essential to wake them up after a night’s restful sleep or after sitting or driving for a prolonged period of time.
Here is what you can do:
(a) Before getting up from the bed, start moving your toes, especially the great toe. Flex them, extend them, stretch them and wriggle them.
(b) Slowly rub and massage your toes against each other.
(c) Repeat the same with your fingers.
This activity will not only stimulate your brain and nerve pathways; it will also make you feel cool, refreshed and energetic to start the day on a positive note. It will also reduce early morning falls among the elderly people, as the muscles stabilized their grip even before getting up from the bed.
Keep your brain busy! It will not let you down! – Dr.Hanish Babu
Again on physical exercises, exercise daily, minimum for at least twenty minutes to stay in peak physical condition. You will feel refreshed and calm for the whole day and also will boost your confidence level. This is so because human body generates lot of enzymes and fluids, if we exercise and these help in increasing the performance level of our body and mind.
Good Food habits
Food habits play an important role in your body and mind activities. You are what you eat or your thoughts are what you eat. You may have noticed that after a heavy meal rich of carbohydrates, you become sleepy. It is fine at night but when you are looking forward to reach the zenith of your performance it is wrong to take a heavy meal at noon. A better meal for better mental performance is a protein rich food. Our brain is a sugar fueled processor. So always take a good breakfast. Our brain burns two-third of the body’s glucose (blood sugar) and its highly dependent on the blood for steady supply of this fuel, day and night. Too much and too low sugar can bring changes. A cup of tea or a candy can change your mood. You are refreshed and energy level goes up. Your food habit also affects your concentration level.
So take a balanced diet. Eat notorious food avoid junk food. Take special care in eating habits. Customize it according to your needs and availability. Eat on time and give time for digestion. Eat more fruits and vegetables. And the most important drink lot and lots of water. Never skip you breakfast. It is a must. Don’t eat too much and get sleepy at afternoon, when you have work. Proper food will even solve your sleeping problems. Avoid taking too much of tea or coffee. Instead take fruits and fresh vegetables or some natural juice. Keep away from smokers. Smoking kills! Your choice of food reflects your creativity and productivity
Relax yourself, take a stroll, day dream
Releasing of stress is very important and our body and mind needs to relax. A break is always mandatory. Take a walk around or if you are in office get to the canteen and get a fresh fruit. Day dreaming is also a good break but you should be aware of the time and people around you. If you have a fish tank you can watch the fishes in the tank. Listen to some music. We need to refuel and service ourselves to keep up the productivity. Work – Leisure balance should be maintained. Spend 60% of time in a week to work (excluding sleeping time), 20% to your family, 10% to the community and remaining or less than 10% to your selves. The time you spend yourself is really the quality time, most important decision are sometimes taken then, you can analysis situations and solutions when you are alone. Mostly you get a better picture then. Always find some time for yourself.
“The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might and force of habit. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him-and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires.” – J. Paul Getty
