10/27/25: Practice Makes Progress: Building Habits That Actually Work

Have you ever heard the saying “practice makes perfect?”  What a ridiculous saying!  No person is perfect or perfect in their actions.  A saying I do love is, “PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS!”.  Whether it be in our personal or professional lives, In each habit we develop, we progress.

Spontaneity has its time and place, but there’s power in cultivating positive habits. Personally, I love routine — and really, routine is just a fancy word for habits. Let’s talk about what this practice toward progress looks like in life.

I have one child who has been in school for 10 years, one for six years, and we have built solid wake up and bedtime routines for them during the school year.  Knowing how much time they have to do all their tasks and what the expectations are allow us to get to bed on time (most nights) without fights (at least now) and get us out the door pretty much on time in the mornings. 

I have skipped the gym for the past 137 days, but when I was going, the hardest part was setting the habits that got me there in the morning.  First, I knew if I did not go right away in the morning, I wouldn’t go.  The other thing I realized is that if I didn’t leave the house ready to make that stop, I wouldn’t make it a priority.  So on gym days, I would pop out of bed and immediately put gym clothes on – no prep for the day whatsoever, totally in the mindset of going to ruin it all 🤣  Having to drive by the gym to get home was the biggest trigger.  To have it in the calendar, be dressed, and then drive right past it would’ve made me feel like I had broken a system.  SPOILER ALERT ‼️ I broke the habits and stopped making progress!

Even think about the habits that keep our home healthy and safe.  Every evening I run through a mental checklist – doors locked ✅ lights off ✅ all animals accounted for (we have a cat who likes to escape and an elusive dog) ✅ and random things like candles blown out or Christmas tree unplugged.  We don’t even realize these are habits until we skip one and have to whip the covers off to double-check every door, light, and candle.

Even the most unorganized and chaotic people (you know who you are) build systems and habits in their personal life – survival necessity! But are you building strong habits in your business?  Did you know good habits will equal progress?  So let’s talk about some of my favorite business habits that are transferable to any sector you may be in.

1. Keep a schedule!  Seriously, don’t think you can all willy nilly your day/week/month and gain traction.  Make a habit of sitting down with your schedule at least once per week. I like doing this on Sunday evenings, and planning for the week ahead.  Get everything in there and make a plan.  I also peek at my next day late in the evening the night before and pop into it right away in the morning just to make sure I have a clear path for my day.  If you need help going through these steps, I encourage you to check out a FREE time management training I am doing in collaboration with Jamestown Regional Entrepreneur Center on November 4th 9:30-10:30am CST.    You do not need to be in the area to attend.
2. Create a space designed for work.  Man, I am so guilty of thinking I can work at a high level in my living room…but I am wrong!  I am not saying it needs to be a home office, but make a space that has everything you need to work efficiently, and most importantly, without distractions.  Know that when you are in that space it is work time.
3. Put your goals in writing-paper or digital, whatever works best for you.  Have you ever heard “a goal without a plan is just a wish”, well it is.  If you do not understand your goals, it is hard to have something to reach for.  Along with that, you should have tangible metrics to track your progress toward those goals…and make sure you are regularly checking in on those metrics.  In fact, put a “progress check” in your calendar as often as it makes sense. 
4. If you are going to have goals, you need to have a strategy and from point A (strategy) and point B (goals) there is a path (tasks).  Put all the tasks that need to be accomplished, whether micro or macro, to paper, and break them down into manageable and achievable timelines.  And again, track and check progress-make yourself accountable.  If you are not sure how to create this map, schedule a FREE discovery call so we can get you pointed in the right direction!

These all may seem hard for the person who doesn’t love structure or feels like most of their work life is just “going with the flow” but really you cannot make progress without practicing habits.  Each habit can be unique to you, but it is good to start putting something into practice now if you haven’t already.  And remember, the systems you build now may not be what works-you may need to tweak them as you move along in life and business.  There is nothing wrong with that.  The world is constantly changing and we need to be prepared to change with it.  A great example of this is a pivot I made this year-my calendar and task tracking when from paper to digital.  I have always loved a physical planner (much like a book), but I realized it wasn’t practical to carry that big @$$ thing with me everywhere and I needed to be more schedule aware with my shift to a client based business…not to mention an endless stream of life appointments.  

If you are thinking “this all sounds great, but I don’t even know where to start,” keep your eyes open 👀 for a HUGE announcement coming on Saturday, November 1st.  Something that will give you everything you need to start 2025 with balance, clarity, and consistency.