I Am Habit!
Posted by Nick on November 21, 2009 at 03:12 am
Recently I came across the following poem. It talks about the progressive or destructive powers of our habits. Looking back into my still young life, I have constantly observed how habits have played an important part in the way I have lived, worked, related to others, and even my financial and emotional states. This poem reminds me of a job I had in the summer of ’05 where I was selling educational materials and books door-to-door to families in North Carolina. It was a hard job, as you can perhaps imagine.
For one week before myself and another 3,000 some college students embarked on this adventure, we went through an intensive one week training which started at 6A.M. and ended at 10P.M. It was hardcore. Like nothing I had seen before. During the entire training period one thing that was hammered to us constantly was forming good habits. This one week training period was essentially a preview of what to expect in the “real world”, or “in the field” as it was commonly referred.
We would start off with springing out of bed at the very moment the alarm went off. I remember we around eight people in our hotel room, and each would compete about who would get into the shower first. Do you want to know how fast it took a student from the moment he heard the buzz of the morning alarm to the moment he got into the bathroom? Get This: Often, less than two seconds. That is fast, isn’t it? A student would open his eyes, get up on his feet, run across the room often jumping over the other roommates, and get into the bathroom before the second or third alarm buzz went off. Dear reader, that is FAST! By the end of the week most of us beat the alarm by a few minutes.
But this wasn’t the hardest part. Once you got into the shower, there was no time to look in the mirror and make yourself look handsome. In order to get a kick in the butt and stay alert for the rest of the day, the shower had to be COLD. Just cold water, not even a drip of warm water. And if you took longer than 30-40 seconds in the shower, there were seven or so excited and fully awake students pounding on the bathroom door, reminding you to jet out of there.
That was only part of the habit building process. There were another 14 hours or so left from the day.
Now, what did this training do to us? Well, in my humble opinion it is one of the best training I have ever received in my life. It taught us what discipline and hard work were, and most importantly how discipline can empower you when you know how to use it correctly. I learned about the power of forming good habits, and how forming a good habit is a lot easier than undoing a bad one. And the students who learned how to use this training correctly made a lot of money in those three summer months. For us who had the mental strength to finish the summer, the end of the summer job was equivalent to conquering the world. I mean, the feeling was incredible.
It wasn’t uncommon for many first-year students to have earned over $15,000 in those three months. Some had even earned over $30,000 in three months. Not too shabby for a college student who otherwise tries to make ends meet. I mean, you had to have some money left for beer at the end of the week.
But besides the money, the sense of confidence and the ability to get things done was amazing. I remember coming back to school and my friends looking at me differently. Maybe it was because I was looking at things differently.
I saw problems and challenges. And I ate challenges for breakfast. All because the power of the good habits I had formed.
Even now, years after that summer job selling books door-to-door, those habits are still with me. No, I don’t spring out of bed like a crazy chicken, unless I want to, but I still got to have my morning shower. Sure, you may think that is crazy and pointless. So did I at first. It’s not easy to get out of the comfort zone, and sub nice, long, hot showers with quick cold ones. But the benefits of how you will feel for the rest of the day I am not able to describe with words.
Now, I have created my own version of those morning showers. After the regular warm shower, I conclude with about 15 seconds of entirely cold water. I completely turn off the hot water, and turn up the cold water. Only for about 5-10 seconds. That’s it! It gives you a kick in the rear. You are ready to tackle even those activities you have been putting off for a looong time. It feels amazing. Try it for yourself!
Now here is the poem called: I Am Habit!
I recommend you print it out and tape it somewhere you can see it on a daily basis.
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn
over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and
correctly.I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with
me.Show me exactly how you want something done, and
after a few lessons I will do it automatically.I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.Those who are great, I have made great.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision
of a machine.Plus, the intelligence of man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes
no difference to me.Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the
world at your feet.Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?I am a *HABIT* !!!