My wife and I work together in our business. We were reviewing candidates for a position and there was one individual who caught my eye. She objected because this person was a cigarette smoker.

Having once shared this habit, I objected to what seemed to be "profiling.” She explained that her objection had nothing whatsoever to do with the habit itself, but the time it demanded.

The average cigarette break, she explained, lasts about 15 minutes. A smoker will probably take at least three breaks during the workday. She did the math:

15 minutes X 3 breaks X 5 days X 50 weeks per year = 11,250 minutes = 187.5 hours per year, or nearly 5 weeks!! Five weeks of unproductive time.

I had to admit she had a compelling point.

Whether you have a smoker or a person who spends time making personal calls or emails, or has a habit of coming in late, leaving early, and/or enjoying extended lunch breaks, it all amounts to unproductive habits.

Imagine if that time were spent instead on a habit that nurtures the mind or inspires the spirit? Reading, for example. Give yourself a healthful habit of enrichment. If you used your daily "habit breaks" for something to further your goal and your future, you would come much closer to the achievement you seek.

Life is black and white when it comes to achieving your life goals. There are no shades of gray. Everything you do either takes you closer to or farther away from reaching your pinnacle. Don’t allow bad habits to be a detour.

Posted In: New Home Sales Management Training

Tags: achievement, bad habits, cigarette break, life goals, new home sales management