As I stated in a previous blog post, I had a 90-day goal that started in February and ended in May but was greatly impacted by the Pandemic. So I decided to continue with my original goal and add some new components for a second 90-day cycle that ended in August. I was able to complete some of the original goals and the additional goals and was so happy to be moving forward and getting things done! So when the time came to consider starting a third 90-day cycle I wasn’t sure what to focus on. Yes, I could pick another business thing but I was kinda over those types of goals and wasn’t sure if that would be the best use of my focus. (Besides, once you start working on your business goals you just keep going!) Some of the original 90-day goals were still being impacted by the Pandemic, but at least I had a plan to overcome (which was part of the main focus of the challenge), so what else should I try to accomplish? Then I saw this post by Danya Bolden about her 75-day challenge and I knew that was my new goal - Daily habits for success. See prior to that moment I had been struggling to master waking up at a certain time to read my daily devotional. In the past, I could wake up easily but just like most habits, if you do not maintain them, they will disappear and I was on the struggle bus. Further, the Pandemic was bringing on a level of liturgy and stagnation that I was desperate to resist. Yes, I understand that we are allowed to take mental health days and should, but I refused to allow external issues (a Pandemic, global recession, systemic racism, civil unrest, looming election, etc. etc. etc.) to stop or slow my forward momentum! So let’s work on keeping momentum and what better way to do so then a 90-day challenge!
The original 75 Hard Challenge was really about mental toughness. The founder promised by focusing for 75 days and cutting excuses you would become unstoppable. Your confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, self-belief, fortitude, and grit would increase exponentially. The external changes (weight loss) were just a byproduct of what was happening internally. But above all, you would tap into your inner strength and discover exactly what you can accomplish when focused. The challenge was to be followed DAILY and if a mistake occurred you were to start over. The original challenge consisted of the following:
2 - 45-minute workouts (one must be outdoors)
Follow a diet - No alcohol or cheat meals
Drink a gallon of water
Read 10 pages of a book
Take a progress picture
For my 90-day version, I (and one of my close business friends) made some adjustments but kept with the spirit of the challenge:
Workout for 30 minutes - I had fallen off from my earlier Pandemic workout plan and with the Houston Summer upon us, I needed to be intentional about moving indoors and keeping up the momentum!
Follow a diet - Mine was no excess sugar (I’m looking at you chocolate).
Drink at least a half-gallon of water
Sleep - Going to bed on time to do what we needed to do the next day and truly embracing rest! (This was the key to me getting up to tackle my devotional, workout, and me-time BEFORE client work and business responsibilities)
Daily Reading/Learning - I was going to tackle that morning devotional time again and make sure I was reading the Bible every single day (You are what you eat!).
Daily Journaling - Not too hard for me, but I still wanted to be intentional about capturing the journey.
Daily photo - I called mine a Self-Love Selfie! No matter how I feel about my skin or hair I was going to celebrate being alive!
Let me tell you! This challenge has performed everything it promised! From Day ONE my friend and I saw changes and challenges to what we thought we knew and what we were doing in our daily lives. See as I stated before discipline is essential for wealth and we both had multiple businesses to set ourselves up for generational wealth. Well, to run a healthy business(es) you have to be disciplined and this challenge really showed us our weak spots! What I also realized was the challenge would take us right through the election which I thought was a real blessing so I would have something productive to focus on while the shenanigans intensified. I finally feel like I have a real and comprehensive system for success in life and then business that makes sure everything that is important is being considered with intentionality and action! Here’s to crushing it!