When I speak to audiences around the world, I’m often asked how I’ve created a great life for myself. I believe the key is knowing exactly the kind of life you want and then making decisions to make that happen. I think of it as “crafting” my life, and that’s what I’ve done. Here are five ways that you can do that also.

Five Approaches to Crafting a Spectacular Life

1. Live by YOUR clock, not that of society.

Rather than working standard days and hours, work at your optimum time. It’s no secret that I’m a morning person; I almost never set an alarm clock, but awake when my body tells me it’s time to go. My clients and friends comment on my 3AM emails, but starting early enables me to go to an aerobics class at 9AM or read a book for a few hours in the middle of the day. You may find me at my computer on a Saturday, but at my grandson’s baseball game on a Tuesday afternoon. The standard workweek is an outdated paradigm. Break out of it.

2. Always be learning.

How many books have you read in the past month? How many teleseminars have you attended? It couldn’t be easier to access great business content these days. You can read about a book and download it to your Kindle in less than a minute. You can access online training—often at no cost—with the click of a mouse. Don’t let a week go by without digging into a subject that interests you.

3. Remember this is the only body you get. 

A healthy diet and regular exercise build confidence and lead to a spectacular life. Discover some type of exercise that you like and take the time to work out on a regular basis. Consider making one major change in your diet each quarter: maybe this quarter you eliminate white bread; next quarter, sugar-heavy deserts; the following quarter, eating after 7PM. 

4. Reward yourself on an ongoing basis.

Rather than living for the weekend (or even worse, for retirement) relish in small, ongoing rewards that remind you just how great life can be.

5. Delight in life!

Focus on what is right with your life: a healthy child, loving spouse, friendly neighborhood, balanced checkbook. Heck, if your car starts in the morning, you’ve got a reason to rejoice. Don’t let these daily moments pass by without delighting in them.