I picked up the above book from the Red Cross shop for $1 and enjoyed it immensely. Published in 1951 ‘How I Raised myself from Failure to Success in Selling’ by Frank Bettger is, as you could tell from the title, a book on sales. I read it because I own a retail store, but also because I love reading old-fashioned, slightly cheesy, seemingly folksy books like this and they are a good positive inspiration for me about life in general.
One idea I took from it was ‘The Six O’clock Club’. The author heard that many successful people including Benjamin Franklin considered themselves ‘members’. How does one join you ask? One rises every day at 6am, including weekends and days off. I have often heard we give ourselves a form of jet-lag by rising early to go to work but sleeping in a little on our days off.
Even though it feels wonderfully luxurious at the time it’s going against our bodies. By getting up early even on days off I feel so refreshed, have more time to do things and sleep well at night. I make sure my light is off by 10pm, so I get eight hours – but even if I don’t get into bed until 10.30 or 10.45 I will get up at 6am, just make sure I’m in bed early the following night.
The times I have slept way past my alarm I feel quite sluggish. And what does one do at 6am? My favourite thing to do is make a big cup of hot tea and read. I read in bed in the winter with the lamp on, either a book or some magazine articles I have been saving up, or I get out the laptop and read blogs or the news.
In the summer I do the same things but at the dining table, or I might potter in my sewing area.
I think Frank Bettger and Benjamin Franklin probably used their time for more worthy pursuits – like planning their day or getting a headstart on work.
The key to a good day for me is plenty of time in the morning to get ready. Before I leave for work I like to have a minimum of 1.5 hours to shower, breakfast and dress. I can squeeze it into less but why would I want to? If I can stretch it out to two hours I’m in heaven.
Giving myself time to have a leisurely and relaxing start to my day is the best reason to get up at 6 o’clock, and I don’t find it a hardship at all!
What time do you get up in the mornings? Do you like a sleep-in or do you rise at the same time every day?