As business owners, you’re always looking for ways to grow and prosper. You’ve read the books, watched the videos, and listened to the podcasts that tell you what it takes to be successful.
Yes, you must have a solid plan and strategy to execute it. You have to network and do marketing. You must know how to handle money. You must be persistent, patient, and resilient.
However, there is one thing that ranks above all else in importance. And it doesn’t matter what kind of business you have. It should be your top priority if you’re a dentist, consultant, or tree trimmer.
Without it, everything you do becomes much more difficult–if not impossible. In fact, I would argue that without it, the success of your business is irrelevant.
And everyone knows about its importance, yet many still take it for granted.
I’m talking about your health. Or, as I like to call it, personal energy (credit to Scott Adams). If you don’t have good physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy, your business and everything else in your life will suffer.
You want your business to reach its potential? Well it ain’t gonna happen if you aren’t operating at peak performance.
Yeah, I know. Obvious, right? But how many of us don’t see it and/or treat it as top priority? I’m totally guilty of it at times.
I’ll look in the mirror and notice a little more fat around my waist. Or, I’ll realize that I’m not really listening when my wife or children are talking to me—a clear sign that my personal energy is down.
I’m not going to go into great detail about how to take care of your health.
You can find more than you’ll ever want to know with a simple Google search. This post is more of a reminder—especially to myself—to keep first things first.
The health of your business is important. But it all starts with keeping your personal energy up. This means each day practicing good habits in the following areas:
Physical:
- Break a sweat everyday. I don’t care what you do for exercise. Even if it’s just ten minutes; move, stretch, sweat.
- Eat healthy–at least most of the time.
- Get plenty of sleep! Another one of those health habits that gets severely neglected these days.
Mental:
- Learn something new. Do something creative.
- Practice coming up with new ideas. You’ll strengthen what James Altucher calls your “idea muscle.”
Emotional:
- Do things that bring you joy. Make time for your hobbies. If you don’t have one, maybe it’s time to take one up.
- Hang out with people that you love and who love you back.
Spiritual:
- Practice gratitude. Give.
- Pray, meditate.
All four of the above are important. They are all connected. Each can affect the other—positively or negatively. You must manage and recharge your personal energy.
Taking care of yourself cannot be overemphasized.
It must be your top priority if you wish to maximize the prosperity, passion, and fulfillment in your business (and life in general). Whatever your goals are, whatever your dreams, it all starts with your personal energy.
What do you think? In actual practice, where does personal energy place in your list of priorities?
