As many of you know, I'm in the middle of a 30-Day Boot Camp. 

I've got a list of things I'm challenging myself to do each day.  For example, I have to make 25 calls to potential website sponsors, blog every day (M-F), complete 66 push-ups and sit-ups, and write a new chapter for my upcoming book (amongst other things).

However, I'm learning that my decision to stack so many different elements at once isn't practical.  When I started the challenge on Thursday, it was my first day waking up at 7 am.  Because I'm used to waking up around 10 am, my body needed to adjust to the new pattern.  Although I made my 25 calls, did my push-ups, sit-ups, and blog entry, I didn't complete a new chapter in book two.

I tried.  But when I sat down at 8 pm to write the next chapter, my body (and brain) was exhausted (from missing out on three hours of sleep).  In conjunction, I could still feel the "brain-fogginess" from eating meat the night before.

After struggling through the first paragraph, I decided to abort the idea, opting instead to try again later ... once my body (and brain) were functioning at optimum levels.  To try and "force" a chapter just to get it done, would've been a waste of time, because I wouldn't have been satisfied with the content (and would've chosen to rewrite it anyway).

On the following day, my body was telling me that it wasn't going to be practical to do 66 push-ups, because it was sore from the day before.  Understanding the importance of listening to the body's signals, I decided to let it rest.  I did, however, complete my sit-ups, 25 calls, and blog entry. 

On Saturday, I was able to "catch up" on the missing book chapters and my push-ups.

Through the process, I've learned that my "writing days" should be separate from my "website-sponsor" days.  The quality of my writing is much better when I can spend an entire day writing three chapters, as opposed to writing one chapter per day — for three days in a row.  It tends to flow better, as well.

In that spirit, I've decided to not make any website-sponsorship calls today, because I'm focusing on writing chapters for the book.  Not to mention, the bad weather makes my phone service spotty.

I just finished Chapter 37 "Nobody Makes Their First Jump" and you can read it HERE.  It's the third sample chapter I've posted on my website (read the other two if you haven't yet).  I've also posted some new photos on my photos page; dig around to find the new ones.

Tomorrow, since the weather will be nice, I'm going to hit up 50 businesses with fliers about website-sponsorship.  About a year ago, I ordered a sales course called Cold Calling is a Waste of Time.  Author Frank Rumbauskas is right; in most cases, it's a waste of time.

Out of the 75 calls I've made since Thursday, everyone has been super-nice.  However, the information rarely makes a real impression on the business owner.  He looks at his messages and just sees another person trying to sell him something.  When you quickly drop of a flier (describing your services) it's much more likely to be reviewed (and considered) by the owner. 

There are certain "rules" regarding this procedure ... I'll encourage you to visit Frank's website for more info.

Bruce Lee once said: “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water.  Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot.  Now water can flow or it can crash.  Be water, my friend.”

You need to adapt to the form that best suits your life today.  I can only control the things within my power.  I can get up every morning at 7 am.  I can abstain from eating meat or drinking alcohol.  I can find time for a daily blog entry.  But the other parts of my "Boot Camp" have to remain flexible — according to what's best for that particular day.

I can triple-up on writing book chapters today, as long as I double-up on my website-sponsorship tomorrow.  Ultimately, I need to become "water" and aim to achieve all my daily goals in accordance to what will create the most efficient results for that day.  I'll still achieve the same total results at the end of the 30 days, I'll simply achieve them in different "chunks."

I think this is a better method.  It keeps things fresh.  I'll be more motivated to handle website-sponsorship tomorrow, after feeling great about the quality of work put into the book today.

Take this concept into your own daily-routines.  Although you're aiming for the "big goal," don't become attached to thinking you have to follow the same exact path every day.  Keep the "big mission" in mind, but give yourself flexibility in regards to how you achieve it.