One of the things I've learned lately about millionaires is that they generally consider their time VERY valuable.

 

Like I've said before, I don't claim to be a "success guru" or have all the secrets to becoming a millionaire. However, I am constantly studying wealthy people to learn how they do things, and emulating their positive habits in my own life.

 

Here are 3 ways I've discovered that YOU can easily become more productive every day, and ironically, get even more free time as a result!

 

1) Stop wasting transition times!

 

Ok, let me re-phrase that. How often have you found yourself in the checkout line at a store for 5 minutes, maybe even 10 minutes? When that happens, we typically just zone out, gaze at all the candy and doo-dads for sale, or read headlines on the tabloids while we inch our cart toward the cashier.

 

At the suggestion of my friend Noah St. John, I've started using "afformations"...questions that force your mind to work on creating positive answers for you. Examples of afformations could be, "Why am I making so much progress toward my goals right now?" or "Why am I always in the right place, at the right time, with the right people?"

 

I recently typed my own top 5 afformations into a "note" file in my mobile phone. That way, when I get stuck in a checkout line, traffic jam, or some other boring inconvenience, I can actually use that time to be productive and keep my mind conditioned for success and happiness.

 

Also, some people suggest keeping a list in your pocket of tasks that only require 3-5 minutes to complete. These could be taken from your to-do list each day. Whenever you find yourself with 5 or 10 minutes of "useless" transition time, use it to cross off one of those tasks!

 

2) Get up earlier in the morning.

 

I hate this one.

 

In fact, as I'm writing these very words, it's 10:26 AM and I'm still in my pajamas. But many successful people swear by it. And if you examine the lives of the highly successful people you know, VERY few of them will tell you that they sleep in on a consistent basis. You'll be much more likely to discover that they rise at 6 or 7 AM, often even earlier.

 

Like I said, I love sleeping in. But fact is fact...

 

The morning hours are usually best for focused, undisturbed productivity.

 

Let's look at the average person's schedule. Wake up at 7:45 AM. Shower, quick breakfast, and commute to work. Start work at 9 AM. Get home from work at 6 PM. Change clothes, dinner, relax for a while. Get a few things done around the house and run an errand or two. It's 10 PM, getting really tired, bed at 11:30 PM. 

 

Now, if your dream is to start a small online business selling funny t-shirts or providing consulting services, how the heck are you going to start making progress toward that goal? Or if you want to start going to the gym 3 days per week, maybe even start reading the classics of literature.

 

When will you have time? You already have NO unused time in your schedule...so chances are, you may NEVER end up actually doing these things!

 

But what if you decide to join the 6 O'Clock Club and rise at 6 AM every morning?

 

Suddenly you've got 13 more hours in your week, and more than 52 more free hours each month!

 

Don't you think 13 hours per week is enough to go to the gym 3 times...without rushing? And isn't that enough time to start taking some serious baby steps toward your goal of starting an online business?

 

Heck, you could read, "The Count Of Monte Cristo" from start to finish in less than 1 month...even if you're a slow reader! (Do the math: 1,200 pages at 60 seconds per page = 20 hours total reading time). Imagine the knowledge of classic literature you could have in one year!  

 

Never underestimate the morning hours.

 

 

Yes, I'm talking about those geeky gadgets that fit over your ear and make you look like a cyborg.

 

After years of laughing at the people who wear them, I finally broke down last week and purchased my first Bluetooth headset. And wow...I've gotta tell ya. Not only is this little gadget super cool, but it's going to make me a LOT of money. 

 

In my current job (sales), a big paycheck requires talking to large numbers of people every day. Most of my profits come from gathering new customers for the company. But a friend and I recently discovered that we can supplement our incomes nicely by upgrading current customers as well.

 

My friend, a Bluetooth advocate for years, made the observation that we also both drive on the freeway more than 2 hours per day. During that time, I usually listen to music (satellite radio rocks!) or just daydream and think.

 

But what if, he suggested, we started using that time on the road to call current customers and help them upgrade to better take advantage of the company's services? Using a Bluetooth headset allows me scratch down necessary information on a piece of paper (like phone numbers) while keeping one hand securely on the wheel, and my attention on the road.

 

Since we started this new habit, it isn't unusual for each of us to make an extra $75-$150 per day...just during our daily commutes!

 

If you're spending a lot of time in the car, don't let it go to waste! Get a Bluetooth headset and make some important calls. If you don't have any phone calls to make, get some audiobooks on personal development and listen to them during your commute.

 

Just some tips to help you start making daily progress toward your goals.

 

Enjoy!