21 days

Habits are very easy to create but very difficult to break. For years, I have heard that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. I don't know if there was a study done or if someone just made it up, but I do know I have a daily routine that could certainly be labeled as habits. I read every morning and go through the same routine every day - pretty much the exact same thing every day, every week, every month.

 

Let's assume it's accurate that we can break a habit in 21 days or less. What is it that you want to change in yourself as a person or in some behavior that you do every day?  I'll give you an example: I stop and get a cup of coffee every morning at the same gas station, and the display of bakery products is very handy because it's within reach of the coffee. For a few years when I stopped to get my coffee, I would also get a doughnut.  Actually, that's not true - I would usually get two doughnuts. :( It became a habit. I never went to get a doughnut, my stop was to get a cup of coffee but it became a habit for me.

 

In January 2012, as I was driving to Arizona I decided I wanted to lose some weight - actually, that's not true. I needed to lose some weight. I weighed 205, and today I weigh 175. I lost 30 pounds and have kept it off. The question isn't what did I do to lose weight, the question is what did I stop doing? It's been 17 months sine I made the decision, and I have had many cups of coffee, but very few if any donuts. That was one step behavior I changed. I also decided to eat better and at that time use our Cinch product which today is the 180.

 

As humans we get to make choices. We can stay the same, do the same, settle in doing just we do every day and continue on the same path. Or we can turn our future around by starting to make the necessary changes - and it will take 21 days to establish a new pattern of effort or 21 days to change our behaviors.

 

What do you want your Shaklee business to look like 6 months from today? One year from today? What do you have to change? Let's start with the thinking! Are you making calls? Did you have two or three appointments last week to show the opportunity we have? Did you attend a meeting last week? What are you reading? Who are you listening to? Do you have a system that is working for you to build this business?  

 

My guess is that you do want to change your future. Why not get started right now - RIGHT NOW. You know what has to change. It will only take 21 days to change some of your habits. Keep the good ones, of course, but what has to change for you to become that person you want to be and to have that future you know is available?

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke