Habits for Success: Small Daily Changes That Lead to Big Achievements

Written For The Motivated, The Unmotivated & The Ignorant

We live in a generation where change is often frowned upon, but achievement is always valued. A world where success is momentary but habit is considered involuntary. A world where small is insignificant but big is magnificent. However, real success is not about grand moments but about building consistent habits for success that lead to lasting achievements. Let’s explore some of those habits.

In the internet age, stories of overnight success have conditioned us to believe that success is rapid and chance-based. We have convinced our minds that getting a good job or material things is successful. Throughout history, people have often viewed success as a grand destination, but in reality, they build it through small, consistent actions.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Watch your words, for they become your actions. Watch your actions, for they become your habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character.”

The above beautiful quote shows us how even fleeting thoughts can shape our characters. A study by Duke University found that habits constitute about 40% of our daily actions.

Due to technological advancements and shifts in the paradigm, we’ve become used to instant gratification and short processing times. A study done by Microsoft found that 54% of Gen Z workers are looking to quit, and the rest are unsatisfied with their work. This stat contrasts what the previous generations felt about work. Our predecessors were ambitious yet hardworking, which is not the case today as our lifestyles have changed.

Previously, making your bed or taking a shower before leaving for work was not a task but a discipline. Authors like Jordan Peterson, Simon Sinek and many more constantly sell books that address habits for success, which often contain valuable information but haven’t made a change in the thought process. The hustle culture still exists, but it continues to diminish year by year.

It’s humane to feel unmotivated or hate change. But this pertinent problem can be solved. The first step on the list to cultivate a habit for success is to start with why! Start every day with a purpose and a goal in mind. The mission for the day might change during the day or in the grand scheme of things. However, it’ll help you to take the first step to cultivating a positive habit.

Once you have identified your purpose, figure out how to proceed. How can I do this job, or how do I start to make this a habit of changing my past habits? If the why is clear, the how tends to come naturally. Great people who went on to change the world endured hardships, struggled for survival, and had constant failures, in spite of which they cultivated habits that, over time, yielded incredible results.

The third step is to ask the question “What”. What to prioritise or what to do? Everyone often has clarity on this because it’s tangible. Rome was not built in a day. But we seldom consider our lives like Rome. It takes time and conscious effort to build it.

And finally, repeat the process. Success is only real when people can replicate it. It requires hard work and a conscious choice to make it an involuntary habit. The why might inspire, the how might motivate, and the what might help progress, but the repeat makes the habit stay.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much – Luke 16:10 (The Holy Bible)

Small, focused activities that build over time are the first step toward developing successful habits. While these everyday behaviors may appear small at first, they play an important influence in determining our future. Success is about cultivating a mindset of discipline, consistency, and tenacity rather than achieving fast wins. Rather than waiting for an overnight turnaround, start establishing habits for success and experience the power of perseverance in your personal and professional life.