In elementary school, we learned “early to bed and early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy, and wise.” It’s as true now as it was then, and getting up 30 minutes earlier than your competition can prove it. 

My son, Michael, shared something with me recently. He’s in phone sales helping businesses get loans. His manager had shared something with Michael’s team that was really inspiring, and I wanted to share it with everyone.  

“When I’m up at 5 am working, I know my competition is sleeping.”  

It seems like such a simple statement, but I found it so motivating because when you think about it, if you are up just a little earlier than everyone else and start your day, you can feel like you accomplished a whole day’s worth of work by 9 am.  

I want to challenge you this week and get up 30 minutes earlier than you normally would. That means you are up 30 minutes earlier than your competition and getting ahead while they’re still asleep. I want you to treat this like an experiment.  For 5 days, get up 30 minutes early and see how it changes your business. 

TIP: According to Education World, science proves there are tons of benefits to waking up early. Read about those here.  

An Inspiring Story 

One of the most powerful moments in athletic history I remember watching came from Dutch runner Sifan Hassan, whose story still inspires long after the race was run.

During a major 1500-meter event, Sifan had a shot at winning what many called a “Triple Crown” of distance running. Her strategy? Hang back, conserve energy, and let others set the pace — saving her final burst of power for the last stretch.

But in a shocking turn, she stumbled and fell mid-race.

Already at the back of the pack, many would’ve counted her out. But in true champion form, she got up, pushed forward with everything she had, passed every runner ahead of her — and won the race.

The Life Lesson

That moment wasn’t just athletic brilliance — it was a metaphor for life and business.

1. You don’t have to be out front to win. There’s value in observation, patience, and timing. Sometimes, hanging back gives you the insight you need to surge forward when it really counts.

2. Falling doesn’t mean failing. What matters is that you get back up, refocus, and keep moving. Your success isn’t measured by perfection — it’s measured by persistence.

Sifan’s race reminds us that no matter how far behind we feel, there’s always time to make a comeback — and sometimes, the stumble is what sets the stage for the win.

TIP: For some tips and tricks to stay motivated, read this related article. “Staying Motivated by Focusing On Your Task.” 

Staying Focused 

We often hear agents tell us how they don’t have time for this, or that, or they are just too busy, but giving yourself that extra 30 minutes a day, even for 5 days, it’s amazing how much we can accomplish when we are focused. That extra 30 minutes of focused work sets the tone for the day and creates momentum. You get yourself on track and before you know it, you’ve accomplished more in less time because you aren’t distracted.  

How much of your time is wasted in between tasks? Think about your day like a computer’s hard drive when it’s sorely in need of defragging. How much empty space is there between the bits of data? How much better does it run when that wasted space is removed? Our schedule is like that too. Being focused and not wasting time will leave us with bigger blocks of free time to accomplish those things we complain we are too busy to do! 

TIP: Check out this related article, “8 Self-Management Strategies for Life and Business.” 

Imagine your alarm going off in the morning and you hit that snooze button. When you are laying there, think: “Is my competition hitting the snooze button?” If they are, get up and win the clients before they can. If they aren’t, then get up so they don’t win those clients from you! 

Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of not having the time, it’s a matter of not being as committed to your business, or committed to helping your clients reach their Next Level®. You don’t need to make time, you need to get more committed.  

What’s Next? 

Are you ready to start taking things to the Next Level®? We have everything you need to develop new skills and master the ones you already have!  

Power Agents®, for more tools and training to be more productive, joyful, and get more traction in your business, check out the amazing content in the Time and Money Management tab in the Classroom.  Whether you need help staying on track or strategies to set a consistent pace in your day, we have the tools and ideas to help! 

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