What you do first thing in the morning can set the tone for the rest of your day.

In the mid-nineties, a number of my 1% Club clients repeatedly reminded me that their EMSR was the barometer for the day ahead. If their EMSR was purposefully planned and intelligently executed they were confident of a highly productive day. One particular client labeled his EMSR as his “million-dollar habit.” Now more than ever, with so many distractions and temptations surrounding us, it is essential to give ample thought to this element of your personal success system.

So what exactly is an “EMSR?”

Your EMSR is your Early Morning Success Ritual. A ritual is simply a series of habits that become “locked in” and typically precede an important event. For example, world class athletes perform rituals before their competition begins. Often, they have a “night before” and “morning of” ritual along with a short ritual prior to certain aspects of their competitive event.

Your EMSR should be viewed as your “pre-life” ritual. As such, it is even more critical to make it very intentional and effective as the stakes are much higher than for an athletic competition.

During your EMSR, I recommend that you address at least three key aspects of your life:

Spiritual-strengthening your relationship with God

Physical-training your body

Mental-re-focusing on your goals and disciplining your mind

What you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Therefore, it is essential that you have planned how you will direct your mind during the first fifteen minutes of the day, beginning with deciding in advance what your first thought of the day will be when you awake. This initial thought should become a habit. It will take only 3 or 4 days to form this habit.

“I love life”

“I believe something wonderful is happening to me today”

“Every day in Every Way I get better and better”

“This is the day which the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

“I am ready for a powerful day!”

“My time is NOW!”

Consider: Wake up

Immediately think the “perfect first thought,” get out of bed and begin your sequence of habits that make up your EMSR.

Read something inspirational as the coffee brews (1-2 minutes)

Scan your plan for 120 seconds

God time (10 to 15 minute devotional)

Physical time (workout & listen to something productive while your exercise)

Brainstorm one area of your life (9 minutes) [switch areas of life each day]

Faith, Marriage, Fitness, Parenting, Business, Financial, Social, Adventure, Etc.

Examples:

In what ways COULD I strengthen my faith in God in the next week?

How could I better connect with my spouse over the next 30 days?

Keep fine tuning the above, keeping it fresh and making it increasingly relevant to your life time goals and personal growth plan.

And…think HUGE!