If you are reading this, chances are you probably already know the answer to the title question. But honestly, can you compete if all you seek is sleep? The fact is – you, me, our spouses, family, and friends all have the same 24 hours in one day. This is the same 24 hours that Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Jeff Bezos has. This is the same time period that Clay Clark or Doctor Robert Zoellner also has to work with every day. So why is it that some people are able to get more done in a day than others?
KNOWLEDGE BOMB: SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DON’T SLEEP!
Ok… so that’s not entirely true. Everyone sleeps. It’s literally and physically impossible to survive without sleep. But, are you getting too much sleep? Everybody knows the cliche phrase, “No pain. No Gain?”. In fact, we talked about that in one of our meetings this week which is the reason for my ambitious little business coaching self to dwell on this one thought all… week… long. It’s amazing how you can hear the same thing over and over again, and at one particular point in your life, it hits home a little more than others.
Just because you overcome one obstacle, or maybe you reach one goal, why should you stop? Why shouldn’t you continue to compete at the next level?
I recently found myself in a position, similar to what I see A LOT of business coaching clients get into. I began sleeping in an extra 30 minutes. One morning, I even slept in an extra 45 minutes. WHOA! There’s nothing wrong with this, right? Everybody does it. In fact, I get up earlier than most of the world, so I’m still doing okay. WRONG! I found myself in a spot where I was able to get things done faster than certain tasks were previously taking me. I’m getting more familiar with certain tasks and therefore am getting faster. Because of this, I felt I wasn’t required to set my alarm as early as I had been.
I see this often. When you get comfortable and realize certain tasks don’t require as much work as they used to, this is great! This means you put in your time. This means you over delivered in the beginning and now you are receiving the fruits of your labor. However, you’re still missing out! What is it again? Oh yeah… No pain, no gain. Just because you overcome one obstacle, or maybe you reach one goal, why should you stop? Why shouldn’t you continue to compete at the next level? If sleep is standing in your way, find out what this is costing you. Literally, find a physical number. Assuming you track your numbers, which you should, figure out what the tasks not getting done are actually costing you. Figure the amount of time those tasks would take. What is it costing you?
This week, I learned that peace is purchased through strength. I learned this not only as a sleep-related analogy but also as a general statement. You find strength in the everyday grind that you don’t actually realize you are “grinding” in. Maya Angelo says “Nothing works unless you do”. Where is this time coming from? For most people, this time should probably come from sleep. If you get eight hours of sleep per night, try six. Don’t take time away from the things that matter but take time away from what matters less. Frankly, getting out of bed at 3:45 am when your bed is so nice and comfy requires a certain amount of strength.
What do you want to suffer for? What is worth your fight?
