Starting up your own company takes a lot of hard work and dedication and unfortunately not every new business succeeds. It may surprise you to know that wealth, strong networks and lots of experience are not the magic seeds for success. When you look at the most successful entrepreneurs in business today they tend to have certain things in common, certain habits that give them the fuel to be the best at what they do.

Here are 10 habits of successful entrepreneurs:

Be Consistent in Your Schedule

The little things can really make a difference. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day and breaking your days into productive blocks of time that you follow every day can really help boost your productivity. While of course life will throw some curveballs at you that might force you to change up your schedule at times, try to make sure every day as room for your top priorities.

Do a Mental Check in Every Day

Because life can be such a roller coaster ride all the time, it is good to do a mental check in with yourself at the end of the day when you can grab some quiet, contemplative time. It is important to make sure that your daily actions are reflective of your overall priorities and values otherwise you might find yourself heading in a direction you didn’t really want to go. So have a heart to heart with yourself every night to make sure that your daily actions are going to help create the future you desire.

Commune with Nature Once a Week

In this fast-paced high tech world, it can be easy to lose touch with nature. This is real unfortunate, because taking long walks in nature not only easies stress and is good exercise, it also great for creative inspiration. Try carving out at least an hour a week to go for a hike or even just a walk in your local park and take a small notebook with you. That way when inspiration hits, you will be able to write it down immediately before you forget.

Start Every Day Off With a Hot-Cold Shower

We all wish we could start each day by jumping out of bed, sharp, focused and ready to go, but most of us struggle with morning cobwebs that are hard to shake. Some successful entrepreneurs swear by a hot-cold shower to improve your focus and clarity. Simply take your normal shower and then at the end switch to ice cold water for 30 seconds, hot water for another 30 seconds and then back to cold water for the last 30 seconds. This will wake up your body, and give you more long-lasting energy and focus throughout the day.

Don’t Be Afraid of Open-Ended Questions

As a business owner, you want to answer questions quickly and efficiently, but often times for big, important questions it takes time for the right answer to percolate in your brain. For these major questions like the creation of a new product or a new business strategy, don’t be afraid to leave the question open-ended. This way you can explore the question from different angles. It make take some time, but the results will be worth it.

Identify 3 Main Goals for the Day

As an entrepreneur, there are so many things that need to happen to make your business successful that it can get overwhelming. One way to help yourself stay focused on what is important each day is to start each day by identifying three man goals for that day. Ask yourself, what are the most crucial things that need to happen today? Then create a schedule for the day that reflects these priorities. This will help keep you from being detoured by all the minutiae that can happen in running a business.

Create Lists and More Lists

Don’t you love that feeling of accomplishment you get when you cross something of your to-do list. It is a great feeling and also the perfect motivator. It propels you to keep going, crossing of more actions on your list. Lists also keep you organized so that important details don’t slip through the cracks. Before you officially start your work day, you should spend at least a half-hour but it could take up to an hour to create lists you need for not only your daily schedule, but also lists for projects and meetings and all long-term plans. You will love how better prepared you will feel going into each day.

Drink Lots and Lots of Water

When we are so career-focused and drive to succeed, a lot of times we tend to neglect our personal health, surviving on gallons of coffee, to get through the day. This is bad not only for your health, but also for your business too. Did you know that staying properly hydrated throughout the day keeps your memory sharp and your mood stable? It also helps keep you better motivated throughout the day.

If you have to start your day with that cup of coffee, there is nothing wrong with that, but after that stick to water all day and you will be pleasantly surprise by how good you feel.

Surround Yourself with the Best Team

Behind every successful entrepreneur is a team of highly skilled hard working employees. Never let your ego get the best of you. While it is your business, you can’t do everything alone so you must recognize the important contributions of those around you. When you all feel like you are working for same shared values and goal, mountains can be moved.

Make Self-Care a Priority

In order to keep your fuel tank full and your mental health on point, you need to take care of proper care of yourself. What is the point of all this hard work and success if you get sick and can’t really enjoy it?

Remember that self-care means a lot of different things. Besides getting proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise, it means carving out some me time every week whether it is time to read a book and enjoy a glass of wine or go out to a party with some friends.

Getting involved in groups outside of your company is also good for your health. You get to meet new people who have similar goals and values and help you think about something other than your business for a while. Whatever self-care looks like for you, make it a priority.

For more information on the habits of successful entrepreneurs, contact MBB Management today.