True, yet not true.
That’s what I think on an almost daily basis when my clients bring up yet another motivational maxim for me to opine and re-position.
Here’s today’s example, followed by my commentary:
“You need to go to bed early and get up early if you want to be successful.”
Most people I know get up early each day – and most of them do not consider themselves to be successful.
Yet I know others who moonlight and sleep in, and they’re more successful than those who rise early. Almost every pro athlete goes to bed late and gets up later than the rest of society – and they’re making bank.
Same goes for rock n’ rollers, artists and performers of every shape and size.
The other day I was listening to Bruce Springsteen talking about his “glory days.” He told how he sleeps in until noon.
I guess he’s got it wrong.
The fact is that many, many, many people are early risers, and they lead very unfulfilled lives. Some early risers have extraordinarily successful – and then there are those who formed a “how to” around the habits of the early risers.
Rising early definitely works for those whom it “works” for.
But it’s unwise, even for Ben Franklin – or anyone living today to form a “must” or “need to” around this habit.
Rising early is a good habit that I utilize from time to time, depending upon where I am in the world and what I’m doing.
Yet, the grand majority of my greatest productivity has always come when I stayed up late – often until 3 a.m. – writing, crafting, creating and manifesting.
In an earlier time of my life, I was up at 5 a.m. and in bed by 9 pm – six days a week, and I was broker than broke.
I guess this was because I took the seventh day off. Yooouch.
Moral of the story: Be careful about universalizing a “how to” on sleeping habits of the rich and famous – or those we deem to be a “success.”
Instead, think about what works for you as a free-thinking individual. When you’ve been most successful in the past – what were your habits?
You may find that moonlighting is the ticket for you. It might be rising at 5 AM. It may be some crazy combination or amalgamation of more than one method.
Then again, you might be one of those who sleeps sparingly or sporadically – four or five hours per night.
Whatever works for you is the way for you to live your life. It’s what will probably produce your greatest successes now and in the future.
The key is reviewing your life to determine which way works the best for you – then doing it.
Matt Furey
P.S. Want some private and/or Mastermind Coaching in 2018? Then take a minute to visit psycho-cyb.com/coaching
