Ever wonder if there's a secret trick to being successful in the long run? The thing is, emotional and mental states don't stick around for too long. They're here and gone. But habits last the longest, and that's where we should keep our attention.

Through his experience, Brendon Burchard found key ingredients for long-term success. He distinguishes six intentional habits that could serve as game-changers for everyone. To pinpoint these pivotal habits, Burchard studied academic literature, data from a global lab, and insights from over 3,000 coaching sessions with outstanding performers. He identified these high achievers through surveys and objective performance measures such as academic and athletic achievements or business outcomes. Later, he asked them directly about their experiences. This gave the author insights into how such people start projects successfully and keep their attention, energy, creativity, productivity, and effectiveness going strong.

Ultimately, having nearly two dozen initially identified habits, Burchard highlighted only six that emerged as the true champions. These are the High Performance Habits, or HP6 for short. Once identified, Burchard subjected the HP6 to additional literature reviews and validity tests. It resulted in the creation of the High Performance Indicator (HPI). Tested with over 30,000 participants from 195 countries, the HPI demonstrated its validity, reliability, and usefulness. It revealed that each habit individually and collectively correlated with high performance.

Outstanding performance helps people experience deep engagement, confidence, and joy. That means they're really into what they're doing, enjoying it, and feeling sure they can handle things. Other top feelings include having a purpose and being in “flow.” When people talk about high performance, words like determination, focus, and intention also pop up.

While other factors like luck, timing, or social support play a role in long-term success, the HP6 is within your control. Whether you're a learner, startup founder, team leader, executive, sports enthusiast, or a stay-at-home spouse, the HP6 provides a universal roadmap to success.