Tonight I called home from my trip to Nashville and talked with my wife about her day. At 10:08 I looked at my phone and said, “I need to let you go. I’m getting up early tomorrow.”
My wife replied, “Ok, but you say that you’re getting up early every day and you don’t.”
She’s right. I set my alarm for 5:30 or 6am every night but rarely answer its call when it rings. I have been living as if my intentions mattered as much as my actions. Decisions aren’t actions, they intentions that we still haven’t delivered on.
Here’s my alarm for tomorrow.
Jon Acuff teaches that we need to hustle at 5am to reach our dreams. He’s right and I’m tired of intending to wake up early. I’m tired of lying to myself and falling for it every time.
I’ll be up at 5am tomorrow because I am a man of my word. Starting tomorrow. For now I’m a dreamer with great intentions. Tomorrow I deliver.
My name is Andy Traub and I help people tell their stories in a way that maximizes their impact. If you'd like to create your own custom channel to reach the world then I can help. Just 
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Way to go, Andy!
What alarm app do you use? I’m looking for one that fades the sound in.
Nightstand – Free version
Thanks, Andy. I needed this reminder as well. It’s GO time! It was great to meet you this weekend. You are a big inspiration to me, and I was happy to meet you in person. Wish we had had more time to chat.
Great to meet you too. Hope you had a great time.
Alright, between after you talked about this on the last released In The Loop podcast I have had the early to rise challenge link saved in Pocket Casts…now it is time to do it.
Yes I read I read the book and have been doing six, but that is not pushing it for me, so five it is. Also there is something about knowing others are doing this to that will work for me. So thank you.
I used RingtoneStar app to make ringtones from my library and have some that are good for opportunity clock tones. U2 – Beautiful Day being one and POD – Alive being another one.
I just noticed that you can not choose a song to be your tone which is cool if you do not want to make ringtones.
what better time to signup with yall then to get up early to sign up!
Way to step up to the plate and own up to the challenge. It’s time to do work!
Dude, charge your phone!
Oh, and good idea to get up early. It has taken me many years to learn to be an early riser. It’s about the only time I get some peace and quiet these days.
Andy — Love this post. That is me…and your wife’s comments are the same as I have heard from my bride. And she’s right. I am trying to turn those bits of truth into motivation.
I am on Day 2. Thanks for the inspiration.
“I have been living as if my intentions mattered as much as my actions.” Haven’t we all at times? Great thought and an inspiring challenge for everyone! Posted in September… It’s now November. How are you doing on the “Early to rise challenge?” Well, I hope. Early to rise is easy for me, but I have other intention / action gaps. Gap realization and fulfillment is universal, and shining this blog-light on your gap will inspire others to work on their gaps!
Coincidentally, The Gap Band had their biggest hit in 1982 with “Early in the Morning”, also covered in 1988 by Robert Palmer, who was the lead vocal for the 80′s supergroup Power Station. Their biggest hit was a cover of t-Rex’s “Get It On (Bang a Gong)”. Coincidentally, banging a gong is a good way to make sure that someone gets out of bed early in the morning.
It’s all becoming crystal clear now isn’t it?