The Most Important Habit in Life

The smell of sterility mixed with expectation hung in the hospital lobby.

As I stood with my parents, none of us willing to sit for the occasion.

It had been a tense 12 hours as my wife’s blood pressure fluctuated throughout the night.

The doctors agreed that a C section was the best way to go for the sake of both.

We turned as the double doors parted, and a nurse came out with a cart.

From the moment I held him in my arms, I knew everything was going to change.

I had no idea just how much.

Execute, execute, execute

That was over 7 years ago.

Since then, our family has grown.

Now with two boys, two dogs, and four cats running around, my wife and I are constantly on our toes.

If you’re a parent, then you know just how crazy it can be at any given moment.

Blink, and the dogs are eating the Doritos, the boys are jumping on the crumbs, and the cats are watching the whole thing unfold from the upper landing.

My wife and I only have one rule when it comes to the chaos.

Whoever is closest to ground zero takes the most action.

For an introvert, it’s a weird conundrum.

I’ve always loved the stage, but I’ve never tried to be the center of attention.

Ironically, that’s exactly the role of the parent.

Life comes at you like a freight train on Vaseline.

Don’t hesitate.

Act.

When this is your default mindset, all things become possible.

• Dog pooped on the carpet? Grab the brush and dive in.

• Cat threw up all over the blankets? Grab a wipe and pick it up before it sets.

• Kids throwing toys at each other and jumping on the couch? Start counting down.

From the moment I walk in the door after a hard day’s work, I never stop moving.

The only time I get a moment to myself is after the family is asleep.

That’s the space when I get to write, to share, to build.

That’s how I like it.

Now you may throw a rock or two at me and say “that’s just busy work”.

You might be right, but have you ever tried scraping off unknown residue or rushed a dog to the vet because their poop came out looking like something Willy Wonka made?

It’s not a matter of money, it’s a matter of safety.

Neglect your responsibilities to your family, and you risk your sanity and their health.

So what? What’s in it for me?

For you parents, this is old hat.

The trick is to take this execution mindset and apply it to your content.

Every year, I plan out how I’m going to improve in execution and volume.

Everyday you reinforce your actions builds on speed, efficiency, and idea generation.

Yes, AI can do it for you…but that’s a huge problem in the long-term.

You never master the basics if you have someone else do it.

That’s like saying you can make pancakes but only if you buy the ready-made batter from the store.

If you want to build on something, know what the least actionable unit is and do that.

• Want to make videos? Whip out your phone and record yourself for at least a minute everyday.

• What to start writing? Whip out your phone and write anything that comes to mind in your notes app.

• Want to keep your house clean? Pick one room and scrub it down once a day for a week (I recommend the bathroom).

Start with actions. Build towards systems. Then, and only then, see if you’ve achieved any milestones.

It’s how I’ve written something everyday for 800 days.

It’s how I’ve done over 35000 pushups in the past year.

It’s how I’ve lost over 15 pounds in the past four months.

Don’t hesitate. Just do it.

Want to try it?

Pick a small action and commit to doing it for one week.

Let me know in the comments if you decide to do it!