Rules are everywhere, Business, Society - essential !
But the real game-changer? The rules we create for ourselves.
They shape our success, and define our path.
Ready to play at a higher level?
This is how to elevate the game:
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The Only Game In Town That Counts:
Rules, by the very definition of the word, it doesn't sound very exciting does it?
Well actually it is, when we get to select them !
Think about it, without rules there would be chaos.
And the same goes for our own internally created ones as well.
The fun part (and frankly the most useful)
Is that we can design and evolve them as we go.
Rather than being dictated to us, we are in ultimate control.
And we can apply this principle to our Business as well as our Personal rules for success.
So today, it's time for Mr Masters to share with you some of my own;
And let you into the ways, means and methods that I use to enjoy the journey and elevate productivity each and every day.
You might like some of them enough to even consider adopting them yourselves.
At the very least, I wrote this content piece to get you thinking deeply about your current ones and to show you some ways to elevate your own.
Lets turn Monday into Wonday, and adapt the game in your favor.
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Rules Don't Have To Be Difficult -
In fact, they can assist in making our lives life infinitely easier...
By setting clear, positive, and actionable rules, you can enhance your ability to achieve your desired outcomes with greater efficiency and joy.
Still not convinced?
Take a step inside my world, but just before we do so, why are we even examining our so called 'rules' anyway?
The Answer Is In The Questions
(That we ask ourselves every day)
Fundamentally my friends, this is really all about creating a set of guidelines that simplify your decision-making process and foster habits that support your objectives.
Often, we operate under unconscious rules that may not serve our best interests.
By consciously defining and adopting new rules, you can redirect your focus and energy toward what truly matters.
These rules act as a personal code of conduct, ensuring that your daily actions are consistently aligned with your aspirations.
These are my ones...May you they also serve you well.
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Rule #1: The First-Hour Power Rule
I dedicate my first hour to what matters most, whether it’s brainstorming, creating, or strategizing.” 🧠
And its not always what I feel like doing the most.
But I do so as I recognize for me, it is often the most important time of my day.
And lets face it,
Our brain is at its freshest and most creative early in the day.
This is when you’re most likely to have your best ideas and highest energy levels.
For solopreneurs, this is golden time to tackle high-impact tasks that set the tone for the day.
Instead of diving into emails or getting lost in social media, I would encourage you to focus on creating value right from the start.
This Is How I Do It:
Identify Your High-Impact Task: Decide the night before what your most crucial task is for the next day.
And for you, whether it’s writing a post on 𝕏, recording a video, or planning your content calendar, know exactly what you’ll dive into.
Create a Morning Ritual:
You have heard me talk about mine many times,
But whether you elect to adopt the daily questions that I utilize, which form part of my Master Elements Model, or something entirely different;
Start your day with a short routine that gears you up for creativity, perhaps a few minutes of meditation, a quick workout, or reading something inspiring.
This primes your brain for focus.
And sets the stage for success.
Eliminate Distractions: During this first hour, you don't see me!
I rise early, but I still turn off notifications and avoid any non-essential activities.
This hour is sacred to me.
Do you currently do the same? If the answer is no, please consider it. It is the closest thing that I have found to a life hack - that works for me at least - each and every time.
So don't try and be calling me between 4.45am and 6.00am You get red buttoned - real talk !
(Plus you need me free at that time in order to write all this lovely content for you after all 😊)
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Rule #2: The Joyful Hustle Rule
“Every time I work on my goals, I find a way to make the process enjoyable.” 🎨
And i really mean that. Of course not every task is an enjoyable one, but there is always a way to elevate the enjoyability of even the most necessary.
And you already know how I see it...
The journey to success should be as enjoyable as the destination.
When you infuse joy into your daily tasks, you’re more likely to stay motivated and avoid burnout.
For content creators, where creativity is key, maintaining a positive and playful mindset is crucial.
Incorporate What You Love: Identify the elements of your work that you genuinely enjoy and make them a core part of your routine.
For instance, if you love storytelling, focus more on narrative-driven content.
Yes we have to still do the boring accounts and such like, but by switching up tasks I often find this is the catalyst to return to the necessary with a sense of newly revived creative vigor.
(But I don't mean that i apply that same creative mindset to the figures themselves of course 😉)
Mix Work with Pleasure: And to break this down a little bit further what I exactly mean is to pair tasks with activities that bring you joy.
I like to work in silence when im writing, but during other tasks - i do things entirely differently...
For example, you could design your graphics while listening to your favorite music or brainstorm ideas while taking a walk in nature.
I find jumping on my Motorcycle is one of the very best ways to clear my head and often sparks new and innovative ideas.
You gotta find what works best for you my people.
Celebrate the Process: Shift your mindset from
“I have to do this” to “I get to do this.”
You know that in itself is so powerful !
Find gratitude in the small wins and the fact that you’re building something meaningful.
I have a friend who is actually an ex client.
They are a Writer in the main but there passion is also Photography. Me? I don't know much more than pressing the Auto button, but this particular solopreneur loves photography and integrates regular photo shoots into their content strategy.
They schedule fun, themed photo-shoots as a way to create content while enjoying one of their passions. This keeps the content fresh and the process enjoyable until they return to their writing and get back down to business.
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Rule #3: The Clarity Compass Rule
One of my 'daily constants' questions is
'What Is Most Important?'
You have heard me talk about it before.
Its the question which enables me to make decisions based on how closely they align with my top priorities.
Again, its not ALWAYS what I want to do, or feel like doing the most though...
But i do this because time and energy are finite resources.
For solopreneurs juggling multiple roles, staying aligned with your core goals ensures that every action you take propels you forward.
This clarity prevents you from getting sidetracked by opportunities or tasks that don’t serve your long-term vision.
Define Your Priorities: At any moment you can ask me and i will always be able to answer this question;
'What are your top three priorities?'
I strongly suggest that you position yourself in a way that you can too.
Clearly articulate your top three goals. Whether it’s growing your audience, launching a new product, or improving your skills, know what’s most important.
Now this is one that I had to get better at...
Evaluate Every Task: Before saying “yes” to a new project or task, ask yourself,
“Does this align with my priorities?” If it doesn’t contribute to your main objectives, it’s okay to decline or delegate it.
My problem is that i like to help everybody.
But not everybody can always be helped.
Especially if it takes you away from what you actually need to be doing.
Use Decision-Making Filters: Create criteria that help you evaluate opportunities.
For example, if a collaboration doesn’t offer exposure to your target audience or doesn’t align with your brand values, it’s a pass.
Example:
The perfect example is something that used to happen to me a lot.
You might be tempted to take on freelance work in the early days that offers quick cash but takes time away from building what is even more important in the long term.
Be wary of this my people. Before you know it a 'quick' few hundred pounds can turn into a headache.
By using the Clarity Compass Rule, you can recognize that while the freelance work might be tempting, it doesn’t align with your primary goal of scaling your own business, or whatever it might be - and therefore, it’s better to focus on projects that contribute to your long-term success.
Make sense?
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Rule #4: The Win-More-Often Rule
“I celebrate small victories to keep the energy high and the progress flowing.”
And this is one that I need very little reminding of myself.
Every day that I wake up and am living life on my terms I already know that I am winning.
But it wasn't always this way...
Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Celebrating small wins along the way helps maintain motivation, builds momentum, and makes the journey more enjoyable.
Those first six months to a year are tough in any business.
So for me, it was all about acknowledging progress and reinforcing positive behaviors that lead to bigger achievements.
And what I still do to this very day is also to....
Set Micro-Goals: Break your big goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
This not only makes them less daunting but also gives you more opportunities to celebrate.
And who doesn't like a party - albeit even a small one with only one guest - yourself !
Create a Reward System:
This is important too you know.
Link achievements to rewards, even if they’re small.
Completed a challenging piece of content?
Treat yourself to your favorite snack, a short break, or something that feels like a reward.
(I am actually intermittently fasting though, so the food based rewards have to wait !)
But here is the real key as I see it.
Regularly take a moment to look back at what you’ve accomplished. This practice builds confidence and reinforces the habit of moving forward.
Its like this. Whenever I have launched a new product or business in the past I work crazy hard, but that being said, its not all work and no play:
Every time I hit a self defined milestone I celebrate like it was 1999. Believe that !
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Rule #5: The Adaptation Advantage Rule
And you know what, rules evolve and change as circumstances shift.
I regularly refine my rules to stay aligned with my evolving goals.
Life is different for me now than when I first started out. By virtue of the situation I am now in, my rules have adapted and evolved continually.
Life and business are dynamic, constantly changing landscapes.
What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
And what you desired or have achieved in life will also understandably influence the above.
Regularly reviewing and adjusting your personal rules ensures they stay relevant and effective as your goals evolve just as you do.
Schedule Regular Reviews: Set aside time, perhaps monthly or quarterly, to reflect on your progress and the effectiveness of your rules.
Ask yourself what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change.
I also have the benefit of my Mastermind Group, which is another forum where we sometimes elect to share and support each other around this very topic.
And I guess what I have learned over the years is this...Don’t be afraid to tweak or completely overhaul your rules as your business grows or your personal life changes.
Flexibility is key to long-term success.
Seek Feedback: And you can get input from trusted peers, mentors, or your audience to see if your approach is still resonating.
Sometimes an outside perspective can help you see what needs adjusting as well.
Even in my own time here on 𝕏 I have shifted and adapted to wanting to spend the entire time on creating content and meaningfully engaging in the conversations with literally hundreds of people per day - to having to cut that down in order to build in the background.
A content creator might initially focus on creating daily posts but later realize that video content is more engaging for their audience.
There is no hard and fast rule to what is right, other than what is right for YOU.
So consider my rules but see them simply as a guideline, or even as an inspiration to tweak and evolve your own. After all its your preferences and your business’s growth trajectory that matters.
Yours,💘
Michael Masters - The Info Architect
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