.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} People who do the same thing all the time tend to lose their edge day-by-day.

You don’t see it all at once, but it becomes a dominant factor in their creativity when the day-by-day becomes month-by-month, and ultimately year-by-year.

A rut is something so easy to get into that most people (not you, of course) don’t realize when the rut has taken over. You start in a groove, but it deepens into a rut when there is no personal growth.

If you find yourself lacking the energy and the enthusiasm you once had for your job, if you find yourself less creative day-by-day than you once were, and if you find yourself blaming circumstances or people for that process, then it’s time for a change.

It’s time to figure out on your own (with my help) how to jump out of the rut, and back into the groove:

1. Read a book. I’ve just given away autographed copies of “Thinkertoys” by Michael Michalko to two of my employees who were looking to become more creative. I believe that whatever your job is, there is a book with insightful information that can help you come to a greater understanding of where you were, where you are and how to get to where you want to be. BUT you can’t just read the book; you must also highlight the book and write in the margins your thoughts about how the principles in the book apply to you and your situation.

2. Take a course. Your community college or your state school has adult learning classes you can take to improve your skills and your attitude. The course may be a one-day seminar or a 13-week semester. Whatever it is, you must enter with an open mind and have positive expectations.

3. Exchange late for early. Many people believe that they are most productive in the evening, and most of those people are not correct. Morning is when the clearest ideas pop into your head. Set your alarm clock one hour earlier, and dedicate that hour to your personal thinking, reading and idea creation. Whatever you do in that hour, have a pen and paper or laptop nearby – take paper with you when you walk, and keep it close by the shower. Turn on your computer and begin to write your thoughts down 15 minutes before your hour is up. Look at the insights you’ve gained, look at the ideas you’ve come up with, and dedicate yourself to the actions you’re going to take during the rest of the day.

4. Use time wisely. You only have 24 hours – something must be eliminated in order to add something new. You’re in luck, because you are already wasting two or three hours a day watching some TV program or involving yourself in other people’s dramas. Reading or watching the local news about who got beat up in a parking lot and what got burned down. NOTE WELL: The business news is NOT to be ignored. Rather, it is to be studied diligently because it involves your career and your success.

4.5. It’s a habit. Some habits are light: the way you take a shower, the way you brush your teeth, the way you drive to work. Some habits are addictions – your morning pick-me-up drink, a cigarette, your evening chill-me-out drink – or worse. Contrary to popular belief, habits do not take 30 days to make or break. Habits are a lifetime evolution of thoughts, actions, self-disciplines and end results. In order to get out of your rut, you have to be able to change old habits and form new ones.

What I’ve given you here is not a formula, it’s a strategy and a philosophical overview of what makes a rut and what breaks a rut. You did not get into your rut in a day; you will not get out of your rut in a day. You will get out of it the same way you got into it: day by day.

If you need more information on how to create better habits, go to www.gitomer.com. Register if you’re a first-time user, and enter HABIT in the GitBit box.

Jeffrey Gitomer can be reached by phone at (704) 333-1112 or by e-mail at salesman@gitomer.com. © 2007 Jeffrey H. Gitomer