Repetition is invaluable
The value of repetitive elements—having a routine in your life and your business—cannot be overstated. Steve Jobs famously wore black mock turtlenecks and jeans because he liked the idea of a uniform. It was a routine for him, one that made him feel comfortable. And he repeated it day after day.
Do you ever wonder why Major League Baseball players still take batting practice before their games, even though most of them have played the game since Little League? Because they need the repetition of batting (and fielding and throwing) so they can sharpen the skills they learned when they were six years old. It makes the players more comfortable and better prepared when the real game starts.
A routine prepares you for whatever comes next
You’re no different. Having a routine, something you do every day, makes you feel comfortable and assures you that you’re prepared for whatever the day throws at you.
Let’s use this as an example: You get up at around the same time every day, and the first thing you do is get the coffee going. Next, you walk the dog and feed the cat. Then, you sit down for five or 10 minutes to prioritize the day. Those 10 minutes can be the most productive slivers of time you have all day because you’re by yourself, the house is quiet, and you can concentrate on what you need to do. But heaven help you if the coffee maker doesn’t work one morning! It throws your whole routine off.
Those 10 minutes prepare you for whatever the day may bring. Those 10 minutes mean you aren’t running around trying to do three things at once because you already have prioritized what’s important. That simple routine, before the rest of the house wakes up, has set you up for success.
Get into the habit of repetition in your life and your business. Just like a Major League Baseball player, you can always benefit from a little “batting practice” to sharpen your skills.
Chris Cicchinelli
Chris Cicchinelli is the CEO of Cincinnati-based Pure Romance, LLC, where he leads business development, operations, sales, and marketing for more than 40,000 Pure Romance ambassadors worldwide. He’s the author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller The Secret Is YOU: How I Empowered 250,000 Women to Find Their Passion and Change Their Lives. Learn more at secretisyou.com.