12 Daily Success Principles for Entrepreneurs and Beyond

As entrepreneurs, we often create streamlined systems for conducting our professional operations. However, many of us forget that we can implement similar systems to build daily habits and enhance all facets of our life. In pursuing their personal and professional goals, successful business people start by implementing these 12 Daily Success Principles.

1. Morning Meditation or Prayer

One of the best ways to get your day started is to slow down first. By giving yourself a few minutes each morning to get in tune with your thoughts, feelings, and inner self, you give yourself a strong foundation to take on the rest of your day. As an entrepreneur, this will allow you to make better daily decisions and approach difficult situations with a clear mind.

If you’re new to meditation, start small. Find one minute in your morning routine to sit in silence and focus on your breathing. After one week, add another minute or two. Feel free to try other meditative practices, like guided meditations, soothing instrumental music, or stretching. If you’re interested in praying, you can read spiritual texts that resonate with you, use daily devotionals, and even speak your thoughts out loud. Whatever method works best for you, finding inner stillness is essential for everyday and long-term success.

2. Workout

No matter the level of intensity, it is essential to your health and daily success to be active for at least 15 minutes a day. Not only does working out improve your physical health and appearance, it also improves your mindset. The personal sense of achievement and the endorphins from exercise give you a sustained edge for reaching your long-term goals, both personally and professionally.

The key to staying active every day is to 1) find something that you enjoy doing (there’s more to life than cardio)! and 2) to do it at an intensity level that makes sense for you and your goals. Below are a few ideas to get you started:

• Outdoor walks/runs
• Yoga
• Weightlifting
• Team or Individual Sports
• Workout Classes (spin, yoga, etc.)
• Pilates
• HIIT Workouts

3. Daily Dose

Another daily habit essential for long-term success is learning, or getting your “Daily Dose” of personal development tips, professional growth suggestions, or other topics you want to learn more about. You can get your Daily Dose from things like blogs (like this one), books, newsletters, daily quotes, devotionals, and even social media. The key is to make sure that the source you’re receiving this news from is credible and in alignment with your goals and vision. For example, we post a motivational quote every day on our Instagram story. Find a way to challenge your perspective and expand your way of thinking. By improving your mentality a little bit each day, you’ll sharpen your entrepreneurial mind to reach your goals more effectively and efficiently.

4. Health and Nutrition

The best entrepreneurs and most successful people in the world fuel themselves with the right nutrients so that they can think more clearly, act more rationally, and make better decisions in their personal and professional lives. You need to master your eating habits so that you can be at the top of your game every day for your employees and for your loved ones. 

The key here is to do the work ahead of time so that when it comes time to eat, everything is already set for you. Search the internet for healthy recipes that you like. Make a list of 10-15 dishes that appeal to you, try a couple of them each week, and then add your favorites to a list or recipe book. This takes time in the beginning, but in the long run, you’ll be surprised at how many healthy meals you actually like and can prepare with ease. (This is also extremely helpful for avoiding decision fatigue in the office). Whether you’re meal prepping or making dinner each night, seeing food as daily fuel for success will help you realize monumental gains in the long run.

5. Read 5 Pages

Similar to your “Daily Dose,” reading every day is the best way to open your mind to everything you hope to achieve. Think about the areas of your life and business that you’re looking to develop or learn about. Trying to get better at developing and keeping habits? There are tons of bestselling books on the topic. Need to work on your business’s digital marketing? There are over 20,000 options for “digital marketing book” on Amazon. Looking for inspiration? Try memoirs of people you admire, or even our founder’s story, Black Boy from the Barrio. Whatever gap you have in your personal or professional life, reading just 5 pages a day will help you fill it.

6. Production Time

The biggest part of any successful day is DOING THE WORK! Once you’ve completed steps 1-5 and your mind is locked in, you’re ready to take on your day. Whatever your day has in store - meetings, presentations, conflict resolution, budgeting, etc. - with your still mind, endorphins, proper nourishment, and expanded horizons, you’re in a position to conquer it. That is what it takes to build long-term success - showing up every day with good habits that enable you to work harder for longer.

7. Afternoon Break

Now, RESET! As we’re cranking through the day, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind and lost in our work. Designate 15 minutes in the early afternoon to put aside the to-do list. Mark it on your calendar, and treat it with the respect that you would any other meeting. Take a breather, and check-in with yourself. What have you accomplished so far today? What do you want to finish by the end of the day (that’s realistic)? Has your mindset fallen off? If so, what can you do in these 15 minutes to get back on track? By taking this additional time to reevaluate mid-day, you allow yourself to make the most out of the remainder of your day. Even if you don’t accomplish everything you hoped to, this assures that you will have maximized your time and energy that day. If you do that every day, you will be astounded by the success you’ll see in the long-run, both as a person and as an entrepreneur.

8. Family Time

Entrepreneurs need to have people around them that support them. Whether it’s immediate family, extended relatives, or close friends, you need to have loved ones that will push you through obstacles and celebrate your successes, both in business and in life. By sharing your daily successes and shortcomings with your family, you’ll be able to take on your challenges more confidently knowing that you have people who are on the journey with you. 

This quality time is also essential for you to recharge after long, productive days. Each day, find at least one hour to concentrate on building a relationship with your loved ones without talking shop. Turn off your phones and spend quality time together. Go for a walk, catch up over dinner, get your nails done, watch a game, or even work out together. Find something you both enjoy doing that allows you to talk and get closer to one another. You’ll feel ready to attack life and business feeling refreshed and supported.

9. Fun Time

As children, we don’t need to make a conscious effort to enjoy ourselves. However, as we get older and take on more responsibilities (especially as entrepreneurs), it becomes harder to remember to have fun. 

What’s the use of putting so much time and effort into personal and professional development if you’re not enjoying your life? 

Relish in your journey at work. Laugh with your family. Appreciate the small moments in your life when you experience JOY, whether it’s listening to your favorite song or lighting a candle at the end of the day. Go out with friends, see that movie, go on a date. Try that new restaurant, play a board game, draw, or paint. Ask your coworkers about their lives, their families, and what they do outside of work. Prioritize having fun and bringing that fun to everyone around you.

10. Journal Time

Now is when your day should start to wind down. You can use your journal as a daily reflection of what you accomplished, how you felt, and your aspirations for tomorrow. The one component that NEEDS to be in your daily journal is a statement of GRATITUDE. It’s important that in your pursuit of what’s next, you remember to stop and appreciate where you are now. Whether you’re early in your entrepreneurial journey or already running a successful business, take time each day to appreciate where you are, what you have, and who is around you. Doing this every day will not only encourage you in your personal and professional development, but it will 1) empower you to make overcoming obstacles easier and 2) make success that much sweeter.

11. Reflective Meditation or Prayer

Before bed, take another few minutes to meditate or pray. Designating time at the end of the day to intentionally calm your mind and your body will allow you form a well-rounded perspective, center your emotions, and mentally and physically prepare yourself to rest. This routine can be similar to your morning routine, but make sure the emphasis is on slowing down rather than processing new thoughts about tomorrow. By getting closure each day (as an individual and as a businessperson), you give your brain a chance to catch up. This daily practice results in better sleep, a more successful tomorrow, and a more successful life.

12. Accountability Check-in

Similar to the way you evaluate your business(es), you need to track the formation and maintenance of your habits. Give yourself a score each day so that you can quickly assess your progress. In the Ignite Coaching system, you get one point for completing each task on this list, but you can create your own metrics for evaluating success. The important thing is that you hold yourself accountable, track your habits, and do it EVERY DAY.

Every Day Counts.

How we spend small amounts of time ultimately determines the success of our businesses and our entire lives; don’t waste today, tomorrow, or any day after that. Use these 12 Daily Success Principles, and you will create the personal and entrepreneurial life you’ve envisioned for yourself - one day at a time.