Long showers and chess: habits of the successful entrepreneur

Clearly defined professional stereotypes are a part of our collective imagination. Think of a top executive. What do you imagine? A middle-aged person dressed in a suit, glued to the phone all day, with a high standard of living. An entrepreneur conjures up images of someone young, in a sweatshirt, working in a garage surrounded by mates, breaking only to grab a pizza. But, like these things so often are, professional stereotypes are frequently far off the mark and many entrepreneurs (including myself) have structured routines and lives beyond the famous Silicon Valley garage.

Which is why today I’m sharing a different side of the successful entrepreneur with a list of the habits that help me in my daily life:

1.      A place to think: For me, the shower is my favourite place to think. It’s free of distractions and it’s a place where I’ve managed to find many solutions to problems I’m having with my projects. It doesn’t matter where your spot is, just find a place where you can be alone to think.

2.      Learn new things: I try to learn new things or hobbies all the time, and I try to learn from the best. For example, for the last few months I’ve been playing chess with people who are better than me. That’s crucial: surround yourself with people who are better than you so that you can learn from experts. Playing chess against someone worse than me is more about feeding my ego and I won’t learn a thing.

3.      Exercise: It helps me to relieve stress and, more importantly, stimulate new parts of the brain by trying new sports that require extra concentration.

4.      Get out of your comfort zone: From hobbies to new sports to new professional adventures, it’s important to get out of your comfort zone. Not only will you learn new things, but it’s an opportunity to contribute what you know. For example, I’m working with Sercotel. I’ve never worked with the hotel industry before, but I knew that I had something to give and that it would also be a great way to learn how a new sector works. You have to dare to try new things!

5.      Take care of yourself: It seems obvious, but you have to take care of yourself personally in order to develop professionally. We tend to separate these two facets of our lives, but they’re actually inextricable. If I’m not feeling well, it will be reflected in my professional performance. Which means that it’s important to add healthy habits into the daily routine – I’ve started meditation. 

I always say that being an entrepreneur is like having a child that needs 24/7 attention, but my advice is to always carve out some time to relax, unwind, and reconnect with yourself.

I'd love to know what habits you have that help you in your professional and personal development. I look forward to reading what you have to say in the comments!

#entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #tips #lessons