Every week, I have the privilege of working with teams and organizations across the US. The leaders I work with are remarkably strong leaders within their organizations and personally as well. We discuss and focus on personal habits.

Habits are not instinct. Habits are acquired actions or reactions. Once the original cause of a habit is determined, it is within your power to control them.

You are not a victim
You have the power to reset your habits 

Most people “throw in the towel” and allow habits to control them. I am going to ask you to do something that will require courage and action… take 15-20 minutes to work through these eight steps to building good habits:

Step One: List your bad habit(s)
Step Two: What was the original cause of this habit?
Step Three: What are the supporting causes?
Step Four: Determine a positive habit to replace the bad habit.
Step Five: Think about the good habit you want to create and it’s benefits and results.
Step Six: Take action to develop this habit.
Step Seven: Act upon the habit for reinforcement DAILY.
Step Eight: Reward yourself by noting one of the benefits from your good habit.

Remember, each of our lives, our relationships, our health, and our personal influence is a result of our daily habits. Have the courage to form new, lasting habits. It’s true, we form our habits and then our habits define us.

Here’s to building good habits!

—Steve