Entrepreneurship isn't for the faint at heart. Founders must forge their own path, gather resources and take on huge financial risks – all in the hopes of avoiding the fate that 80 to 90 percent of startups suffer: failure.
So to be successful, entrepreneurs really have beaten the odds – especially young entrepreneurs. Starting with almost no wealth, network or business experience, many create more success in a few years than most people do in their entire lifetime.
To understand what they do differently, we interviewed several young entrepreneurs from this year's Empact Showcase, an annual program highlighting the power these founders and their companies play in the community.
Rather than focus on generic insights or basic hacks, we looked at unique, concrete habits you can immediately adopt in your life and business that can have a game-changing impact.
Take a hot-cold contrast shower every morning.
My most unique personal habit is the hot-cold contrast shower. I've done it every morning, no matter where I’ve lived or what hotel I'm staying in, for 14 years. By doing 30 seconds of ice cold water, followed by 30 seconds of hot, then 30 seconds of cold water (always ending with cold water), I gain the energy and clarity to start my day feeling refreshed.
To get started in this habit do a normal shower. Then crank the water as cold as it goes for 30 seconds. Then crank as hot as you can stand it for 30 seconds.Then ice cold for 30 seconds (this cold-hot-cold is one cycle).
I'd start with one cycle for the first time. If it's too much, try it on the legs first. (That's what my girlfriend does; she also thinks I'm crazy.)
Not convinced? Learn about the research behind cold showers.
--Founder Phil Dumontet of Dashed
Originally published by Entrepreneur Magazine
Excerpt from Michael Simmons' 7 Insanely Productive Habits of Successful Young Entrepreneurs, 10/24/14.
So to be successful, entrepreneurs really have beaten the odds – especially young entrepreneurs. Starting with almost no wealth, network or business experience, many create more success in a few years than most people do in their entire lifetime.
To understand what they do differently, we interviewed several young entrepreneurs from this year's Empact Showcase, an annual program highlighting the power these founders and their companies play in the community.
Rather than focus on generic insights or basic hacks, we looked at unique, concrete habits you can immediately adopt in your life and business that can have a game-changing impact.
Take a hot-cold contrast shower every morning.
My most unique personal habit is the hot-cold contrast shower. I've done it every morning, no matter where I’ve lived or what hotel I'm staying in, for 14 years. By doing 30 seconds of ice cold water, followed by 30 seconds of hot, then 30 seconds of cold water (always ending with cold water), I gain the energy and clarity to start my day feeling refreshed.
To get started in this habit do a normal shower. Then crank the water as cold as it goes for 30 seconds. Then crank as hot as you can stand it for 30 seconds.Then ice cold for 30 seconds (this cold-hot-cold is one cycle).
I'd start with one cycle for the first time. If it's too much, try it on the legs first. (That's what my girlfriend does; she also thinks I'm crazy.)
Not convinced? Learn about the research behind cold showers.
--Founder Phil Dumontet of Dashed
Originally published by Entrepreneur Magazine
Excerpt from Michael Simmons' 7 Insanely Productive Habits of Successful Young Entrepreneurs, 10/24/14.