GO AGAINST THE GRAIN

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

 — Steve Jobs

Many people spend most of their lives trying to get ahead of the person next to them. Successful people find a way to go against the tide and they don’t try to meet and exceed nor follow what everyone else is doing. Resist average and the common rat race; get creative and think about what you can do to reach your goals and be revolutionary in spite of what may be the common belief. This is as simple as rethinking how you approach your tasks at work, in your personal fitness routine and goals and how you embrace your closest relationships.

Here are 5 steps you can take to Go Against the Grain!

1) Never, Ever Stop Learning

Take time every day to learn something new every day. Read something that will help you accomplish your goals. The world’s most successful innovators spend more than 75% of their time reading and learning.  

Commit to learning something new about your field or industry every day. Sign up for blogs and news that will help you grow and improve. You will be more knowledgeable and informed than the average person!

2) Stop, Breathe and Meditate Daily

At Dissident, we post, share and discuss physical health and fitness often; equally as critical is our mental health if we want to achieve success. Be more aware of the benefits that sitting quietly and clearing your mind can bring to your productivity levels, including improving memory and dealing with stress. If your day-to-day schedule is packed, get up 30 minutes early and take time for you. Take a few deep, calming breaths in the morning to help set the stage for your day. There are plenty of free meditation apps to help you get started. You can reap the benefits of mindfulness meditation in just five minutes daily.

3) Don’t Just Wake Up Early, START Early

Most Dissident community members are already earl risers. And that’s a great start. Almost every successful innovator not only wakes up early, they start on their ideas and  goals early! Adopt this common trait. Get started on your ideas and goals even if you think you aren’t quite ready. It’s never too early to begin pursuing your future whether it pertains to your physical fitness, financial fitness and mental health. Don’t be afraid to take a leap in your career, even if you think you’re too inexperienced. Make the commitment to eat healthy and learn new recipes and fitness techniques as you go. Just get started and don’t seek perfection… instead build on your ability to grow and learn in the process. If you keep waiting for the perfect timing to take an opportunity or to start reaching a goal, it may never come.

4) “No” is Not an Option

You will hear “no” many more times in life over any number of “yes” responses. If you take the perspective that “no” is just someone’s opinion and nothing more, then you can decide for yourself if you want to accept their opinion. Successful people push past these negative responses, bad experiences and rejections. Go against the grain and use them as a springboard to accomplish your goal and achieve success.

5) Make Yourself Uncomfortable for 5 Minutes Every Day

Get outside your comfort zone if you want to be innovative, create success and become Dissident!  For many, risk is not at all comfortable and at times even terribly frightening! Taking five minutes out of your day to try something new that can make you feel uncomfortable is important so you can become more familiar with the process. Doing this on a regular basis trains your brain to be okay with challenges and to feel comfortable with putting yourself out there, even if the result is failure.

This could be as simple as asking for help, talking to a new person, requesting feedback from a peer or trying a new food. For some, it could be as challenging as learning to say “no” to others. Just remember that the more successful you are the more likely you will face criticism. If you’ve prepared yourself for that reality by participating in little uncomfortable situations everyday, you’ll handle most of these situations with poise!

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” - Eleanor Roosevelt