Habits are what we are made of. Reverse-engineering what amazing achievers do, makes us understand that at the end of the day what shapes our destiny is most of all a matter of what we consistently perform on a daily basis. Of what we basically tend to do, rather than those actions that needs us to rely on our mere willpower (still very relevant).

It’s then considerable as true what Aristotle said. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but an habit.

But old habits die hard and every time we are trying to do something different from the usual our brain pops-in telling us, that maybe, it’s not really worth it to change how we are currently behaving, as it feels so good and comfortable to rely even on negative habits.

Here are three habits that will help you achieve your dreams faster:

1. Plan more efficiently

To become excellent at this skill you should train to get your brain used to planning, consequently improving also your analytical and logical skills. 
This is the exercise. Write a goal that you want to reach: 
It should be a short or medium term.

Something like “finishing the project about…”, “going to London, Las Vegas, Rome”, “Increasing revenues by 3% in a month”, “Increasing customer range by…”

Now answer to these questions:

• What is the most efficient strategy to reach it?
• How much time do l need to reach it and how can I make it there sooner?
• Who can help me reach it? Is there someone that already achieved that goal?
• Where can l meet that person?
• How many resources (money, equipment, etc.) do l need to reach it?
• How can l get those resources if l don’t have them?

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” – Benjamin Franklin

2. Give more

There is a common thought that you have probably already heard. The fact that giving is already a compensation in itself. That’s absolutely true, and there is something beautiful in being more generous.

Consider giving as a powerful force. This force is able to help not only others, but even more, the giver.
 Think about the money concept. It’s all about circulation: money has to always flow. When you’re selfish, scared, or whenever you just try to keep everything for yourself, you’re literally blocking the money’s movement.

The best thing you can do is try to make this giving force flow again. How? Give more. Be more generous. Always give back to whoever gave you something. Then, let the magic happen.

Embrace abundance. It’s not that the more you have, the less others should have. If

you can have more, even others can have more. You want love, success, respect, true friendship? The best way to have it all, is to give it first. Passionately, for free, without asking anything in return.

3. Get a mentor

A crucial aspect when it comes to being successful is to spend time with someone who already has the results you want. Most of the time it will be someone 10-­20 years older than you. They already cracked the game, and its knowledge comes from their own mistakes and from the errors of who they learned from.

Steve Jobs was a mentor to Mark Zuckerberg. Warren Buffet to Bill Gates. Sir Freddie Laker to Richard Branson. Paul Gauguin to Vincent Van Gogh. Dr. Dre to Eminem. Jim Rohn to Anthony Robbins. The list is incredibly long, almost infinite.Spend time with someone who already has the results you want. It will save years of your life, while improving your decision making process.

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” – Oprah Winfrey

What habits do you think are most important to your success? Leave your thoughts below!