The Power of One More

12One More Habit

Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones.

—Benjamin Franklin

SHOW ME YOUR HABITS, AND I'LL SHOW YOU YOUR LIFE.

I can predict with a high degree of accuracy the results you're going to achieve based on your habits because the outcomes in your life are directly related to your habits.

Your brain understands the importance of habits because it's an incredibly efficient organ. The brain's DNA is hard‐wired to protect you by conserving mental energy whenever it can. Saving energy means that reserves can be applied to other parts of your life where more brainpower is needed.

What does that have to do with habits?

Your brain is constantly trying to save energy.

This is an important point to understand because it directly relates to how to build and change habits, and why you even have habits in the first place.

Habits are a direct result of your brain subconsciously taking actions in a way to ensure that you'll use less energy to get a desired outcome. With habits, your brain already knows what you need to do, and it switches to an autopilot mode, much like setting a car on cruise control to create maximum fuel efficiency.

Think of how many times you've wakened in the morning and gone through your routine of grooming, getting dressed, and eating breakfast. If you have a set schedule, there's a good chance that most days, you've sleep‐walked through all these tasks before fully realizing ...