7 underrated habits of workplace winners

What is it that separates the extraordinary from the mediocre?

How can you escape the mundane middle and ascend toward a more successful career?

Start by cultivating these seven underrated habits.

1. Making your bed early in the morning.

Adm. William H. McRaven opened his 2014 University of Texas commencement speech with a jarring statement: “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

McRaven reasons that by completing this menial task first thing in the morning, you set a productive precedent for the day. If you complete an objective right away, your momentum will propel you toward another item on your list.

Also, once you return home—even if you’ve had the worst day ever—you still get to enjoy the simple pleasure of a tidy, made bed. This is an easy way to condition yourself to reap the benefits of productive behavior.

2. Creating lists.

Writing out lists can help you visualize, clarify and consolidate your goals.

Many people approach work reactively, spending each day scrambling to extinguish fires as they pop up. These folks are blown about by the winds of endless requests, projects, emails and meetings. There’s no long-term strategy or goals; it’s just workplace survival.