Tributum Newsletter #54
Hello
So, the last couple of newsletters were a bit serious, like Arnold Schwarzenegger about his cigars. The question remains – how do you DO what you need to do to get where you want to be? Fortunately for you I have read the books, applied the concepts and are willing to share my journey. But first, like Robin Sharma suggests – you need to sell your Ferrari. A downgrade to a 7 series BM, AMG Merc or even a VW Polo is required. I went for the middle ground and a Qashqai is parked in my driveway. It’s a diesel, please don’t tell Greta Thunberg.
Trying to get into Robin Sharma’s club I set my alarm for 5am, just to snooze it 3 times and drag myself off the bed by 5:35am. I seriously try Andrew Huberman’s morning routine (not possible if you have kids that cannot feed or dress themselves in the morning so if that is you – you will never be successful because your morning routine sucks…) but getting exposure to natural light at 5:40am in the morning exposes me to all the would be burglars outside so I just put on some sunglasses and the kitchen lights. Drink some water – but against his advice I boil mine and lace it with coffee – and sugar (shock, horror – what am I thinking). While meditating the mandatory ten minutes I fall asleep 7 times to finally be wakened by my wife asking me to let the dog out. While stretching in preparation for the critical 20 minutes of rigorous exercise I pull a hammy, which is OK because I am already tired just trying to keep the dog from killing the neighbour’s cat. I eventually get to the triple S (S*&T,Shower and Shave) by 7:49am but because I only have 11 minutes to go before 8am I skip the…then my kids ask my why I am so full of…
When I eventually sit down in front of my laptop, I follow Tim Ferris’ advice and don’t check my email first thing so I can concentrate on completing an important task before interruptions. But after having to field 9 telephone calls in the space of 2 hours asking me why I have not yet responded to an email I eventually mark the task as too difficult to do and then spend the rest of my morning putting out fires. Lunch is not the high protein snack to last me till dinner and after the 2o clock fizzy drink the 7th of my 11 teams calls for the day start off well, but the sugar low seriously affects my interest in the last 3…
We use some wine for dinner, but only a little actually gets into the food. Because of a school activity dinner is not consumed and digested by 7pm as all successful people say they do. Dinner, family conversation and dishes are done by 8:30pm. I have to get to bed early to try the 5am thing again and as successful people plan their following day, I start making my list for tomorrow, just to remember that I never fed the dog or took him for walk. Ceasar the dog whisperer will be so disappointed. I’m such a failure, but at least my dog was happy to see me for a second time that day and I remember – be the person your dog thinks you are.
Life is serious, but also has some humour. Life is different for everyone, so is success, and also the route to getting there. Find yours. Follow yours, and until next time – keep breathing.