I once heard a quote that went something like this: "If you want to be a big business tomorrow, start acting like one today". I adapted this for my own business as follows:

"If you want to be a big, successful, adventurous, fun-loving, fulfilling business tomorrow, start behaving like one today"

Of course this doesn't just apply to business; it applies to any area of life. Today is practice for tomorrow (ie. Whatever you do today becomes more familiar, so you're more likely to repeat it tomorrow). However you want things to be in the future, start today! For instance:

The principle behind this is simple:

Today is practice for tomorrow.

Here's how it works: People like what's familiar. Our minds and bodies create patterns of thoughts and behaviour. The habitual thoughts and behaviours we engage in on a daily basis become our personal patterns of familiarity.

What you're doing today is becoming more familiar to you. If you want to go somewhere new in your life, you need to start getting familiar with that.

Some years ago I was speeding down the motorway towards London. I'd earned several speeding tickets, and knew I needed to slow down, but I was in a hurry. "Just this once" I thought to myself.

Then I had a realisation. With every "Just this once" I indulged in, I was getting better at speeding. I was literally reinforcing the speeding habit. I suddenly realised with total clarity that today is practice for tomorrow.

2)     Does what you're doing today relate to where you've been, or to where you want to be?

In my case, the question was "Does my speeding relate to where I've been (getting points on my license), or to where I want to be (having a clean driving license)?

If you want to be slim, fit and healthy tomorrow, does eating cakes relate to where you've been, or to where you want to be? What about eating healthy, live food? Or going to the gym?

3)     Identify the behaviours that relate to where you want to be, then find a way to start engaging in them today.

When I lived in London, I used to ride the tube to work. I'd read personal development books but I wouldn't do the exercises. I'd always tell myself that I'd do the exercises later.

But here's the thing: I was actually getting better at putting off doing the exercises.

So… if you're saying that these exercises seem like a good idea, but you're going to do them later, ask yourself "Is that decision about where I've been, or where I want to go?"

Most people realise that taking action and doing the exercises is one of the keys to getting what you want, but still they put it off. My temptation to keep reading without doing the exercises was so great that I ended up creating a rule for myself - I wouldn't keep reading until I'd done the exercises. The desire to read the rest of the book was usually enough to motivate me to do the exercises.

So, if these exercises seem like a good idea, do them now! After all, if you want to live the life you desire, it might be a good idea to start practicing today!