There is a wealth of research that indicates that certain habits can help increase your productivity, creativity, and/or drive. So, we thought we’d reach out to respected members of our community and ask them what habits they feel helped them succeed

Gianni Mendes Toniutti | Attorney

In every task I have ever put my efforts in, I have always been (1) very detailed-oriented and (2) particularly repetitive. Whether I am representing a client with my law firm, working out at the gym, or playing a song with my guitar, I always put the upmost attention into details, trying at the same time to be as constant as possible. Perfecting the details is what will make you stand out from everybody else. Constant repetition is what will eventually perfect your skills. I learned that practice makes perfection when I was a kid and had as guitar mentor a very famous Spanish guitar virtuoso, Manolo Sanlucar. He would make me practice hours and hours everyday, and I would hate every minute of it. He was also very keen on paying attention to details, been not satisfied until every note coming out from my guitar sounded clear. Eventually, I understood that only practicing and being constant, day in day out, I would improve my skills. I found this approach extremely useful for any other task I took later in life, including the legal profession. Read more>>

Neal Peterson | Artist

I have two and they’re best lessons I’ve learned in life (so far): 1. Focus on the present moment. Time is so precious and constantly fleeting. When I am in the “now” I am free to focus on my work without distraction. I don’t want to waste another second dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Wasted time adds up very quickly and pulls you away from your goals. 2. Gratitude. No matter what my circumstances, I try my best to be grateful for everything I have—big and small. When you give thanks, I believe that positive intention is reciprocated by this strange, spiritual world we exist within. Another way of saying it: when you do good, the Universe recognizes and supports it. I don’t know that I would call these “habits” because I sometimes lose sight of them throughout my day, but my goal is for them to become second-nature. Read more>>

Tamara B. Rodriguez | Mother, Author, Entrepreneur

For me, I think that staying focused and looking for the positive side of every situation has helped me succeed. It is very easy to get distracted and lose your way when you are starting a business. There are so many obstacles and it can feel very lonely. I imagine that I am wearing a baseball cap or a visor, but there are two shields on each side. These imaginaries shields are there to remind me that if I keep looking forward, I will reach my goal – but if I turn to the left or to the right, I might encounter a deterring factor. Deterring factors can be external as well as internal. External factors could be naysayers and internal factors could be self-doubt. Starting a new venture, can also mean that you will face rejection or take a very long time to reach a particular goal. With every phase, I look at the positive aspect of the situation. There is always an opportunity to learn, grow, or adapt. Read more>>

Stephon Brown | Brand Owner, Designer, Podcaster, & Stylist

Some habits that helped me succeed along the way is definitely being a planner, and having the ability to adapt. In business, and life in general, you have to have a plan. Sometimes a plan for the plan even. Execution and follow through, being prepared for the worst, and not getting down or caught up in the motions when things doesn’t go your way or the way you thought they would. Whoever said “Proper planning prevents poor performance” didn’t lie. Read more>>