As many of you know, tracking is a Rich Habit.
I’ve written several times about the fact that self-made millionaires track certain things:
- Exercise – For cardio, they tracked how many minutes every day they jogged, biked, swam, etc.
- Calories – Typically, this involved tracking calories consumed every day, by meal.
- Learning – Some of the self-made millionaires maintained Fact Binders, in which they would document new facts that could prove helpful in their career or business. They would then periodically review their Fact Binder to keep the new knowledge fresh.
- Relationships – Here, the millionaires typically maintained a list of successful/important people they wanted to build relationships with. This list included columns for Happy Birthday Calls made, Hello Calls made and Life Event calls made during the year. Oftentimes they would automate these calls using some computerized calendar such as Outlook.
I have been using all of these systems. The one I use most often is the Tracking Schedule for exercise and calories. I love it because it enabled me to lose 38 pounds in 2007 and has been responsible for keeping my weight at between 179 – 183 lbs for the past 11 years.
You can click on the link below to see an example of the one I use.
It’s very difficult to change or improve what you don’t track. Tracking is like an accountability partner. It is another tool in your tool belt for success.
About Thomas C. Corley
I think it is a great approach to monitor and improve your daily habits.
In most of your books you are using charts methods. What about using more graphical tool like a framework or figure? People tend to be more friendly to use figures than tables.
For example, as you mentioned about the seesaw habits in your books for the kids. Imagine, if you can create an app that calculate your habits and register all your habits and classified them into rich, neutron and poor as graphical seesaw figure.
What do you think about it Mr Corley?
Thanks and best regards
Kashwani, PhD