Blog: Time to Make or Break a Habit?

Conventional wisdom used to state that it takes 21 days, but I have always taken issue with that. It seems rather arbitrary and trite and 21 is a very nice and cool number, but I have never believed that three weeks can seriously change mindset and attitude. If you’re talking about a trivial habit, maybe putting your car keys on the ring at the door or putting down the toilet seat, then maybe a few weeks will rewire you into correcting those trivial behaviors.

But if we’re talking about reprogramming your mind, whether it is something serious or life threatening, like alcohol or drug addiction or something that can change the way you act from now on I believe it takes much longer. A new study at the University of London concluded that it takes 66 days to break a pattern and a singularly travesty is not necessarily a deal killer.

Over the past several years my company, OPIS Network, has been conducting workshops throughout Southern California in partnership with cities with the goal of changing the way business owners look at their businesses and to truly teach them to “reinvent themselves.” That expression is bandied about everywhere, but it really is true. There are few sectors that can continue to operate the way they used to and that includes government (at all levels), businesses, associations, nonprofits and surely entrepreneurs and business owners,

Since 2010 these programs that last for 100 days- 13 weeks- we find that if someone is focused and dedicated they (you) can implement steps to forever change your mindset and attitude. Our programs consist of four LIVE classes (face to face) interspersed with six calls or webinars. Our most popular program has been the “helping 100 businesses for 100 days” program which we just concluded for the second time in partnership with the City of Newport Beach.

We’ve all been to workshops for a day or a weekend or even for a several days. We come out pumped up- ready to take on the world! The class may about something specific to your business or something general about goals or attitudes or any other topic on this lengthy list. You exit the weekend class and feverishly write down copious notes and as you get home Sunday you start structuring your Action Plan, just itching for Monday morning.

Monday comes and so do the phone calls. And the e-mails. And the distractions/ complaints and everything else that comes with Life. If you are a business owner or entrepreneur you can exponentially increase those distractions. Traditionally after 72 hours you have forgotten over 50% of everything you learned and were so excited by. So how do you change that?

Just as we all have great intentions and questionable execution, it takes time. No one that undertakes a weight loss or a gym workout program expects results in just a few days, or even a few weeks. As a long time gym rat for 40 years I see people come and most go; it is rare that someone sticks with anything for more than 90 days. If you make it past that, the worst is over. And I have been so guilty, even though my intentions (like yours) are noble.

The lesson to be learned is that adaptation takes time and in our experience 100 days is a great way to start the process. We have structured a series of 100-day programs, all designed to form a concurrent chain of change and mindset adaptation. If you would like to join one of our 100 MAD DAYS programs please let me know.