Extraordinary Habits

Maariana Vikse and IDREES HASMI-HERBELLO are co-founders of the Be Unstoppable Institute, a research based educational company teaching scientifically-proven methodologies from the world's top universities. Maariana Vikse was previously an international mezzo-soprano singer. She has performed in several countries, and is a graduate of the University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music.

Idrees Hasmi-Herbello currently serves as the Chief Growth Officer and Chief Technology Officer at the Be Unstoppable Institute. She was previously CTO at EasyGym, and worked in quant finance, trading, and private equity.

There are 21 science-based extraordinary habits that highly successful people apply. Studying these habits is helpful and useful, but it's the number of those habits you apply that can make all the difference in the world.

Learn these extraordinary habits, but realize knowledge alone does not change behavior. In the final analysis, it's the number of these habits (with their associated skills and mindsets) that you apply that counts. Build daily routines where you apply these habits to get ahead.

Section 1 — Know the differences. Habit #1 — Avoid the 12 dangerous failures

Habit #2 — Master 10 foundational strategies

Habit #3 — Follow the 9-question approach

Section 2 — Identify essential building blocks. Habit #4 — Know the science of acquisition

Habit #5 — Develop deep, meaningful relationships

Habit #6 — Connect, inspire, and unleash

Habit #7 — Build new and better habits

Habit #8 — Avoid cognitive biases

Section 3 — Figure out how to work smarter. Habit #9 — Master the 12 core traits of success

Habit #10 — Use feedback and critical thinking

Habit #11 — Supercharge your productivity

Habit #12 — Make goal-based decisions

Habit #13 — Use grit correctly

Habit #14 — Keep growing your earning power

Section 4 — Take the right specific actions. Habit #15 — Avoid self-sabotage

Habit #16 — Cultivate a positive mindset

Habit #17 — Avoid sabotaging your health

Habit #18 — Set up your life for happiness

Habit #19 — Have an attitude of gratitude

Habit #20 — Make every day count

Section 5 — Never feel trapped again. Habit #21 — Create a plan to be unstoppable

1. Studying the 21 science-based habits of extraordinary performers is helpful. Applying those habits can make all the difference in the world.
2. It's not the number of habits you know that counts, it's the number you apply.

There's always something alluring about studying the habits of high performance people, irrespective of their field. It's human nature to try and look for hints in their habits to explain their successes. Brendan Burchard covered this in his book HIGH PERFORMANCE HABITS and this week's book, EXTRAORDINARY HABITS, expands the study a bit broader. Maariana Vikse (a world-class opera singer) and Idres Hasmi-Herbello (a former quant finance analyst) have identified and codified 21 science-based habits, skills, and mindsets that the world's top leaders, artists, and athletes use.

Learning about these habits is helpful, but knowledge alone does not change behavior. If you score yourself on how many of those habits you apply every day, you might find you want to change or develop some new daily routines where you apply more of these habits on a regular basis. Do that, and you effectively create a plan to be unstoppable (Habit #21). Knowing when and how to use grit effectively (Habit #13) can be a huge boost. So too will be avoiding self-sabotage (Habit #15) and making every day count (Habit #20). Cultivating a positive mindset (Habit #16) and making goal-based decisions (Habit #12) are also vital.

Model your life and career on the 21 extraordinary habits of highly successful people. Play big, aim high, come up with a plan, and then work that plan. In the words of Nelson Mandela: "There is no magic to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."