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While surfing on the Internet, I found this post about The 8 Common Characteristics of an Entrepreneur and many other great articles about that.
I list some of them below. If you have most of the characteristics, you have great chance to succeed as entrepreneur. You can get out of your 9-5 boring job starting now. However, there is one common characteristic missing in the list. In the past years, I have made so many changes in my life and have learned so many things from others online and offline.
I was lucky to meet with some very successful local entrepreneurs. I found a very common characteristic they all have, which I am working on. That is one of the biggest changes in my life.
Sleep well like homeless!
I can never sleep like homeless people on the street. I am wondering how they sleep so well at any places under any circumstances.
Ever since I was a little kid, I don’t sleep very long. I often sleep only 4 to 5 hours a day. I can easily wake up in the middle of night because of some noise. I will not sleep well, if I did not finish my home work or worry about the exam the next day. I often got so exciting at night, when I have a new idea pop up in my brain. I have to think through all the possibility before fall deep sleep. I end up sleepless or have so many weird dreams. The more I think, the more sleepless I am. I end up tired all day.
It’s been that way for so many years now. I realized that it is one of the barriers on my journey. Without sleeping well, I often get tired easily during the day, while I need energy to accomplish my job. As I am getting older everyday, I am longer able to energize myself like a teenager.
I have asked the same questions over and over again to the successful people I know. The questions are…
How soon do you fall asleep after getting into bed?
Do you sleep on the International flight?
I am surprised that 99.9% of the successful entrepreneurs get into deep sleep in 5 or less minutes even on the very noisy airplane. They sleep very well. Some of them sleep only few hours a day, but they sleep very deeply and thoroughly. When they wake up, they are very energized and are able to accomplish more work. Most importantly, they can think straight. I find it very interesting and the fact is beyond my imagination. I am learning how to sleep well and fall asleep in 5 minutes.
I often worry or think too much about things I will be doing or difficulties I will be facing. I try to get my mind clear before going to bed. It turns out that I am facing the same situation after waking up. So I am wasting my time on something I should not worry about before going to sleep.
One of the guy I asked was facing a huge challenge. I wouldn’t be able to sleep, if I was in his shoes. He is signing a multi-million dollars deal with his investors. He still sleep very well without worry about it.
This was what he said to me, when I ask if he is worry about the deal and become sleepless?
“There is no reason to worry about something that is not happening yet.”
Ah!
I had a great sleep even without a dream for straight 6 hours last night. I feel so great. I finally understand what a good night sleep means to me. This is what I did to help clear my brain and fall asleep in 5 minutes.
- Write down 5 most important things I have to finished the next day in the order of priority. Don’t list more than 5. You will end with a long list of things that you don’t even be able to do the next day.
- Turn off your computer an hour before you go to bed. So you don’t have excuse to check e-mail after brushing your teeth or putting on your pajama.
- Set alarm 10 minutes before your normal waking up time. So you don’t worry about getting up late.
- Don’t watch TV news. There are too many negative news that will keep you awake.
- Don’t count the sheep! You may lost count and start over again.
- Do stretch exercise to relax your brain.
Do you sleep well?
Do you have all the characteristics to become a successful entrepreneur?
- Creative
- Self-confidence
- Open-minded
- Be Willing to Deal with Hard Times
- Witty
- Intelligent (not necessarily at school)
- Observant
- Patient
- Outspoken
- Damn lucky
- Be Consistent and Persistent
- Lead and Delegate
I hope that you are sleep well like most of the successful entrepreneurs do.
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I have some problems to sleep well. I will try your method and see if it works
Its the worrying that kills everything:) Risk is always part of being successful and failure is just pending success.
Hey! I do sleep well. Actually, I always fall asleep way before my wife does (which she isn’t that happy about..
)
So, maybe this means that I will be a successful entrepreneur too…
On the other hand, though, I’m sure there are many non-successful ones who fit the description. I guess time will only tell
Wow! the article itself is very creative and the way you write make it very intrigue. And yes, I do sleep well and easily in all occasions, it’s great to know successful people does that.
I guess it probably because also that they are busy with all sort of obligations all day. And daily they probably have list of accomplishments checked. Also for the sake of efficiency and save their precious time.
I also think that they are able to let go and clear their head because 1) They are very well organized (even the one that doesn’t seems to, but they are probably well organize psychologically) 2)They are sure of their abilities to resolve any up coming or surprised critical issues (so that no obstacle get stuck in their mind when they try to sleep)
Great article man!
This is a reminder that serves to keep a creator able to create. Missing sleep can be quite damaging to one’s procedure. The lack of sleep is felt much sooner than expected, and production slows to a trickle until a reasonable sleep is acquired again.
Hey Terence, I have only had trouble sleeping since I became a mom. Now i have trouble turning my brain off and the slightest noise can wake me up. I do find it very helpful though not to work on the computer until late at night. if am writing I change to longhand and a notepad. nd if i have things on my mind i must write them down to empty my head. And I meditate and do visualizations before sleep.
As for entrepreneurs being good sleepers, I wouldn’t have guessed that. I would have thought they had racing heads too!
Kelly
@Samir:
Hope you find my methods working for you. Thank you for stopping by.
@Joy:
Thank you for stopping by too. You are right. Worry kills not just the time you spent on your journey. It also kills the opportunities.
@xia taptara:
I believe successful entrepreneur understand their weakness and strength. They also have the characteristic to face their own fear and get use to. Thank you for stopping by.
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@Jarkko:
I am glad that you can sleep well. That’s something I have learn well to get everything out of my mind. Time will tell for sure.
@Armen Shirvanian:
Sleeping well is one key to keep yourself in good shape and face the challenges. I tend to learn that as much as I can.
@Kelly:
Thank you! I can’t image how many hours of sleep I will have, if I have kids. Being a mom and entrepreneur is something that I will never be able to experience myself. Good luck to your journey. I think when your kids grow up, you will sleep better.
Sleeping is very important because during this time, our body is recharging. Quantity is not important, it’s the quality. Most people need 8 hours of sleep to get refreshed. Some people (the blessed few) need only 4 to 5 hours. I consider them lucky because they have 20 hours to live life to the fullest every day. I wish I’ll learn not to sleep 10 hours a day. LOL
@Natural Health ezine:
Personally, I think it’s wasting time to sleep, if you can’t sleep well. You will probably spent a lot of time feeling dizzy while working. I would rather sleep 4 hours deeply and woke up to work straight 20 hours. Thank you for stopping by.