The Power of Daily Habits: Insights from Successful CEOs

Success is not an overnight phenomenon, but a product of consistent behavior over time. Almost every successful CEO will tell you that their success is due to simple habits that they practice day after day. Aristotle famously said that “Excellence is not an act but a habit”, and his words still ring true today.

In this article, we glean insight from seven successful CEOs who have shared their daily rituals that have contributed to their achievements:

1. Promote What You Love

According to Jessica Alba, the CEO of The Honest Company, it’s much better to promote what you love than to bash what you hate. Her daily ritual involves highlighting the positive aspects of her brand and continually improving it.

2. Develop a Feedback Loop

Elon Musk, the CEO of TESLA Motors, highlights the importance of creating a feedback loop. He believes that constantly thinking about how to do things better is crucial to his success.

3. Create Things That Are Better, Not Different

Peter Thiel, CEO of Palantir and best-selling author of Zero To One, emphasizes the importance of singular thinking. Thiel believes that finding unique ways of creating new things that make the future better is key to lasting success.

4. Meditate

Oprah Winfrey, the CEO of OWN Network, credits her success to meditation. She believes that being mindful and paying attention to every moment is critical.

5. Read Every Day

Warren Buffet, the CEO of Berkshire-Hathaway, emphasizes the importance of reading every day. For Buffet, knowledge works like compound interest – it builds up over time.

6. Block Time for Email

Doug Camplejohn, the CEO of predictive lead marketing company FlipTop, suggests blocking out specific chunks of time to check emails. Constantly checking email can be a major distraction and hinder productivity.

7. Make Your Customers Happy

Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon.com, views customers as guests to a party. He believes that it’s the company’s job every day to make the customer experience better and ensure that their needs are met.

Developing the Right Habits

If you’re new to daily habits, it’s crucial to avoid adopting too many at once. Habit-formation research suggests that lasting habits are formed one at a time. Pick one habit and schedule a specific time for it every day until it becomes effortless and automatic. Then move on to the next habit, and before you know it, successful habits will become part of your daily routine.

In conclusion, the daily habits of successful CEOs offer valuable insights into what it takes to achieve success. Consistently practicing these habits will help you move closer to your goals and increase the chances of success. Remember, excellence is not an act but a habit!