Five Intrepid Game Changers

by Todd Schnick on January 5, 2011

Here is a list of five things that I think are game changers. Ignore them at your peril:

READ 30 MINUTES PER DAY This is the most important piece of advice on this list. You need to keep learning. To keep abreast of the latest trends. To keep your mind sharp. To improve your own writing and creativity. Pick a book, set a timer, and don’t stop until you reach at least 30 uninterrupted minutes.

Need some recommendations?

WRITE 500 WORDS PER DAY I don’t care for what purpose. For your blog, your book, or your memoirs. The process of writing each days works your mind, improves your creativity, and clarifies your thinking.

SET ASIDE CREATIVE TIME EACH DAY We all need our own unique setting to be creative. Total quiet? Or music? Seclusion? Or a coffee shop? And certainly for me, distraction-free. Include writing your daily 500 words in this time if you must, but I am mainly talking about the creative work you do for your business or cause. I block off two hours…EMAIL, PHONE, and TWITTER-free.

Leo Babauta writes about the importance of solitude in being creative…

EXERCISE EACH DAY This is important. Read Tim Ferriss’ book and study the difference between recreation and exercise [see affiliate link below]. Do what you will, but do something…even some activity is important. Tending to your garden is one thing, EXERCISE and working your body is another…

Me? I train for half-marathons.

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU EAT Don’t just stuff food into your mouth. Know what you are eating. Think about what you are eating. Care about what you are eating…it will make you feel better and be more productive.

Here is a cool tool to track what you consume.

I’ve only lived 41 years, but I’ve learned that these five items are the keys to success. When I am disciplined and do them, I grow… Grow happier, grow wealthier, grow stronger, grow smarter…

I promise, the world will be your oyster.

Be Intrepid.

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[cartoon by @gapingvoid]

  • Julian Reid

    Hi Todd, thanks for the thought-provoking game changers. A comment on the “creativity” element: Even us left-brained / engineering / accountant types can develop our creativity, and the benefits are far more peripheral and lasting than we realize.

    I use traditional white-boards and dry erase markers to “map” ideas, and the visualization not only helps me piggy-back and extrapolate to the next idea, but it also makes it easier to share, communicate, and “bounce” ideas to others for feedback and collaboration. I don’t know, but I suppose iPads have a white board app, or at least some idea mapping tools. Use techniques such as the “Toyota 5-Why” questions and “Who, what, when, where, why, and how” to flesh out your creative ideas. And unlike your other 4 game-changers, the creative element can occasionally be practiced with others to broaden the perspective.

    Todd, thanks again for the “stimulation”. … and Happy New Year! -Julian

  • Todd Schnick

    yeah, mapping is a critical element in creativity. and i white board too… and i think you are right, but mapping will be easier as technology unfolds new ways to do it and share it..

    and yeah, trust me, i have to use creativity to come up with reasons to run on some days…. ;-)

  • Todd

    Damn! Good insight! Been doing the read/write/creative thing for many years. Exercise has been more like 4 days a week. Focus on what I eat??? Wasn’t it you that requested the extra bag of Cape Cod Chips for our meeting?

    Anyhow, FIVE exercise days per week and SOME focus on what I eat just got added to “Learn Conversational Spanish” and “Learn To Play Piano” to my 2011 ToDo list.

    Call me on ‘em.

    TY

  • Todd Schnick

    wait, what? cape cod chips are a nutricious part of every growing boy’s day…

    proud of you for the spanish and the piano. both will be useful on those south of the border gigs!

  • http://www.facebook.com/theNetworkingMotivator Beth Bridges

    Todd,
    I save time by combining the exercise and “reading” (by reading I mean listening to training/informational audios). I tried to combine running and writing and that didn’t work out so well.

    And, I’ve made a tiny diet change that I think is going to work out well. I can snack as much as I want, totally stuff my face, as long as it is either veggies and (lo fat yogurt) dip or popcorn (with spray butter).

    We’ll see how that goes!

    Thanks for the tips and ideas.

    Beth

    P.S. Do these words count, haha?

  • Todd Schnick

    1. yeah, i can’t read and run. i don’t concentrate on the reading like i need to. but, that’s a great way to maximize time.

    2. yeah, just discovered that popcorn with spray butter is a healthy snack too. will be partaking.

    3. and yes, meaningful contributions, where you extend the conversation on blog posts, counts in my book. commenting on blogs is a top 5 way to market yourself (imho)…

  • Anonymous

    LOVE myplate from Livestrong, Todd! Their “dares” are very cool. The whole system is great for tracking what you eat. I’m pretty sure those Smokejack onion rings would put me waaaaay over my daily calorie goal.

  • Todd Schnick

    maybe i read it wrong, but i thought it classified smokejack onion rings as a “fruit.” maybe i had that wrong…

    but yeah, that tool is great if you want to get serious about changing the way you eat in a way that positively impacts your life…

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