What do Entrepreneurs Oprah, Jack Dorsey and Tim Ferriss Have in Common?

When you think about meditation, what comes to your
mind? An image of Buddhist monks deep in the
monasteries of Tibet? Or a tool that can improve your
performance as an entrepreneur?
If you answered the Buddhist monks, you’re not alone.
Many people still see meditation as an activity reserved
for mystics and the gurus, not something that belongs in
an entrepreneur’s busy schedule.
But over the last few years, meditation has become a
daily practice for several of the world’s most successful
entrepreneurs. Jack Dorsey, Tim Ferriss and Oprah
Winfrey, just to name a few, all meditate every morning
before starting their workday, as it helps them perform to
their full potential throughout the day. Plus, it improves
their emotional mastery and cognitive performance over
time.
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Not sold yet? Here are five reasons why you start
meditating -- like right now.
Increases willpower. Willpower is one of the
entrepreneur’s most precious assets. It’s the force that
allows you to do all the things needed to move your
business forward, day after day.
Related: De-Stress and Unwind With These 3 Free
Relaxation Apps
Kelly McGonigal Ph.D, who teaches a class on the
Science of Willpower at Stanford University, ranks
meditation as her number-one way to increase willpower.
“Practicing mindfulness meditation for a few minutes
each day can actually boost willpower by building up
gray matter in areas of the brain that regulate emotions
and govern decision making,” McGonigal says.
Ramps up creativity. Coming up with original solutions
to customers’ problems is at the core of successful
entrepreneurship.
In a study conducted by professor Melissa Hines at
Princeton University, she discovered that meditation
improves what psychologists call "ideational fluency", or
the tendency for mental associations to flow easily,
rapidly and productively.
Boosts productivity. As an entrepreneur, the speed at
which you grow your business and reach your goals is
directly correlated with your ability to stay focused.
Meditation will train your mind to concentrate on the
task at hand, which will help you move through your
daily to-do list swiftly and efficiently.
A study at Yale University showed that people who
regularly practice meditation are able to switch off areas
of the brain linked to daydreaming, lapses of attention
and disorders such as attention deficit and hyperactivity
disorder.
Decreases your stress levels. While a little bit of stress
can be beneficial, too much of it is extremely
destructive. It inhibits your immune system, drains your
energy and negatively impacts your mood.
Meditation elicits what Harvard researcher Herbert
Benson calls the “relaxation response ,”a state of deep
rest that changes the physical and emotional responses
to stress.
For instance, an Indian study found that “the practice of
meditation reduced the physiologic stress responses
without taking away the beneficial effect of stress,
namely, improved memory scores.”
Related: 3 Ways Meditation Can Make You a Better
Leader
Helps you deal with fear. Whether it’s an important call
with a prospective client, a pitch to investors or a
meeting with the board, the ability to shine in the face of
fear is a critical skill for any ambitious entrepreneur.
In this this study lead by Britta K. Hölzel from Harvard
Medical School, it was shown that meditation shrinks the
amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear.
When people meditate, it actually shrinks the amygdala,
the part of the brain responsible for fear, according to a
study from Harvard Medical School.
As counterintuitive as it seems, sitting in meditation will
develop your ability to perform at your best when the
stakes are high.
Now you can see why more and more successful
entrepreneurs are embracing meditation. Are you ready
to do the same?