When I ask this question it seems simple enough. It would be doing the same thing each day. Right? But is it really?
I remember back in my days when I was in Outside Sales. I had one job as a District Sales Representative. One of the first things they wanted me to do is work on my presentation to potential clients. The thing is that through the use of literature of the payroll product, each page I was to say specific things and that I was to memorize this. Of course I thought it was canned or fake like to read and memorize it. The thing is, is it really? My boss didn’t want me to sound like a robot. She had been with the company for years and developed this presentation/routine that had proven to be successful.
At first I felt uncomfortable working this way. It was a new job and I wanted to be successful at it. I stepped into faith and followed directions. Before I knew it, I had my personality built into the presentation. When objections were raised about the product, I didn’t fonder. I was able to answer the question with confidence. Why? Because I presented the information in the same order to all potential clients in the same order each and every time. I had developed a routine.
What got us to these presentations? Mondays. They were devoted for making appointments to potential clients for the coming week. The rest of the week was appointments until Friday afternoon where we all came into the office and did our paperwork.
My next question is, could any of these three parts of this routine be changed around in order? It is possible but not logical if you want to be successful. My boss had already worked out all the bumps and kinks of the job for us. All we had to do is follow and put our personality into it.
Flylady is the same way. She is sharing how she found keeping her home running successful to us through testimonials, talk radio show, challenges, specific monthly habits to practice each month and has them set up specifically so one flows into the other and by the end of a calendar year, you have yourself a Routine!
Routines are simply habits strung together and Flylady herself said that all of her habits evolved in time to form a routine. This is why I suggested everyone to choose 3 Habits in the same order for each Routine to commit to each and every day. This is your base to flying. Other habits can be added along the way. To start out with this 3 x 3 concept that I tried seemed to be what got me flying.
When I Stumble
Do I stumble sometimes? Sure. When I reflect on what the reasoning may be behind it, I always realize I am not doing my habits in the same order so that I feel like I am doing my routines. When this happens, I don’t give up. Instead, I jump back in and do the 3 habits that I have committed to for the specific routine of the day. I can always add on some habits but not until I establish 3 x 3. When I get 3 habits I have committed to for the Morning Routine, it always gives me all kinds of room to do extra habits if I want. The point is to always do the 3 Habits in the same order for each Routine and this is what will keep you flying.
My next blog, I will write about selecting specific days for specific habits and how that can keep you flying.
Until then,
Keep Flying!
Marilyn