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“Remember, every professional was once an amateur, and every master started as a beginner. Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary feats, once they’ve routinized the right habits.”

~  Robin S. Sharma, The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.

What Are The 10 Tactics?

The 10 tactics of Lifelong Genius are habits to instill into your life that will take you to the next level. These tips and tricks will allow you to focus and build your craft without burning out or feeling lost. If you stick to these habits, you will grow the potential to be the best at your work. By adapting them to your lifestyle, you will notice your 5 primary assets accelerating and your productivity going even further. The tactics listed below are the key to a successful life.  

Tactic 1: The Tight Bubble of Total Focus

The 5 primary assets that all super producers defend are mental focus, physical energy, personal willpower, original talent, and daily time. The tight bubble or focus allows you to tap into all these faucets, freeing your mind from distraction. You can implement this tactic by going for long periods of time away from daily noise like the news or social media. The way to become your best self is to plan out a time of solitude daily. It should be in an enjoyable environment that provides activities to fulfill you. 

Tactic 2: 90/90/1

The 90/90/1 tactic allows you to complete real work instead of artificial work. The commitment to work on 1 thing for 90 minutes a day, over 90 days, will give you an outstanding competitive advantage in your craft. 

Tactic 3: 60/10 Method

This tactic is straightforward, but highly effective for staying engaged in your work. It works similarly to the Pomodoro method by working for a set period followed by a break. Sharma finds that 60 minutes is an optimal amount of time for you to become engaged in your work, without burning out. He recommends starting your work day with the 90/90/1 method to enter the flow state, then follow with the 60/10 method to maximize your productivity.

Tactic 4: The Daily 5 

Tactic 4 is great for setting your intentions for the day. The daily 5 comprises 5 major goals you wish to accomplish throughout the day. A great activity to do in the 2nd pocket of The Victory Hour is to write down these goals, so that you have a sense of direction for the rest of the day. The number 5 was specifically chosen to limit the number of tasks you should focus on and help you make consistent 1% progress during the day. 

Tactic 5: The Second Wind Workout

After work, school, or any major task during the day, many people often find themselves burned out. This leads to them spending the latter half of their day distracting themselves with social media or TV. The Second Wind Workout is designed to reenergize you for the next part of your day. A light workout, such as a walk, going to the gym, or completing some stretches, will clear brain fog and give you motivation to spend the second half of your day with something that fulfills you or brings you closer to your goals. 

Tactic 6: The 2-Massage Protocol

Sharma believes getting a massage will do wonders for your physical and mental state. His teachings state that you should schedule 2, 90-minute massages every week. He acknowledges that this may not be accessible to everybody, but urges you to get a massage when you can to extend longevity. 

Tactic 7: Traffic University

Many people spend a decent portion of their day commuting. The common thing to listen to during this time is music; however, if you were to spend that time learning, you could maximise your time and expand your wisdom. Listening to podcasts is an engaging and effective way to learn while bored in traffic. It will keep you alert and present when others are distracting themselves. 

Tactic 8: The Dream Team Technique:

Nothing great is ever done alone. The dream team technique allows you to free yourself from unnecessary tasks or busy work. If you automate and outsource the unpleasant things that take up your time, you can spend more time working on something meaningful or fulfilling. 

Tactic 9: The Weekly Design System:

The best way to get something done is to write it down. The weekly design system is an activity you can do once a week to set goals and prepare for the upcoming days. Sunday is a great day to sit down for an hour and plan out your week. You can include some goals you have, any major or minor events, and any notes you might want to remember. If you start feeling lost or unmotivated during the week, you can reference the weekly design to decide what you can do. The template provided in the book goes as follows:

The Weekly Design Template:

1. Write a story about the highlights of last week
2. Write any lessons or corrections for the upcoming week
3. Write out each day, including specific habits(Victory Hour, The 60 Minute Student, the 90/90/1 method, etc.)

Tactic 10: The 60 Minute Student

This tactic will accelerate your personal mastery. By dedicating an hour each day to learning, you can develop your craft with confidence and knowledge. Reading, listening to podcasts, or taking online courses are just some of the things you can do the learn something every day. The belief behind this tactic is that the more you do something, the better you will do it. 

Summary: 

The habits outlined in the 5 AM Club were made to be adapted into your lifestyle. While it is encouraged that you incorporate some form of all the tactics into your routines, it isn’t likely that you will be able to participate in these activities the same way Sharma or anyone else can. The best way to achieve self-cultivation is to realize what you need and how you need to do it. The 10 tactics of lifelong genius include: The Tight Bubble of Focus, The 90/90/1 Method, The 60/10 Method, The Daily 5 Concept, The Second Wind Workout, The 2-Massage Protocol, Traffic University, The Dream Team Technique, The Weekly Design System, and the 60-Minute Student. These habits are the secret to a healthy, productive, and successful lifestyle. The best way to install these habits is to write them down while planning your day. It will take time to find the best way to achieve these habits, but once you do, you will never look back.