Bad Habits: Are You A Fixer Upper?

A mentor of mine, Dr. Nido Qubein once told me … “Joe, be careful who you spend time with because that is who you will become.”

There is another thought that says if you look at where you’ re spending your time and money … that is a pretty good indicator of what you value and the direction your heading.

For years I woke up every morning at 5:00 AM to do an accountability call with a group of people who are smart, driven and highly successful. These folks are totally devoted to being self-actualized in both their businesses and their personal lives. As a result of being a member of this group I was incredibly productive.

Early last year I decided that I needed to take a break. I wasn’t getting as much from the calls as I needed, I wasn’t learning anything new, I wasn’t x, I wasn’t y, I wasn’t … yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah blah.

It’s amazing what the human mind can rationalize when it wants to … isn’t it?

The day after I stopped the calls I slept in and amazingly enough I didn’t turn into an unproductive idiot. In fact, for awhile I maintained a pretty high level of productivity.

Someone once said when you take your hands off the steering wheel you don’t crash immediately … you crash eventually!

It wasn’t long before one area of my life started to slip a little and I got a little careless. I started watching a little TV and reading less. This led to a little more slippage in another area of my life … and then another and another.

I started exchanging my learning and studying time for couch time. I stopped listening and spending time with my teachers (Napoleon Hill, Jim Rohn, my 5:15 Team, etc.) and started laying on the couch watching Fixer Upper and spending time with Chip & Joanna Gaines, and the fear mongering media.

As I reflect back on that time I now realize that staying on that path would have eventually led to an all out crash. In other words … I was on my way to becoming a full fledged … Fixer Upper!

But I had a choice (we always have choices) … I could get off this path with a few dents and dings … but in order to do so I needed to change my course.

It took a bit of self-reflection and a process to remind myself of my purpose and what I want for my life (For a PDF Version go here).

Here is a list of what I did to get back on course …

5 Things I Did To Get Back on Course:

1. Got back on my 5:15 AM Accountability Call.
2. Disconnected Direct TV and stopped filling my mind with crap.
3. Committed to exercising a minimum of 3 times a week and making better food choices.
4. Recommitted to my Personal Growth, Development, & Learning (This is at the core of who I am and why I am here … this is how I help others …by being MY BEST).
5. I reminded myself that I am 100% responsible for the life that I create. I can create an extraordinary life or a Flop … it’s my choice!

So what about you?

Are you in need of a little remodeling? Do you need to readjust your course … start now!