Jordan Gross - Starting Your Day the Right Way

Jordan Gross has figured out a five-step morning ritual that energizes the body and soothes the mind. He decided to put it in a book and share it with others, while still exploring how to get the most out of life. As our Author of the Day, Gross tells us all about his book, Getting COMFY: Your Morning Guide to Daily Happiness.

Please give us a short introduction to what Getting COMFY is about.

Getting COMFY is a 5-step morning process that energizes the body and soothes the mind. It is a way to reduce stress and anxiety as you approach the rest of the day, and face it with positivity and optimism. It is different than traditional self-help books because it does not preach one particular method. rather, it is a collection of recommendations that ensures a stress free, productive life.     

What inspired you to write this book?

“It took X event for me to create Y result.” There it is. The realization that a second in time, the “aha” moment, the light bulb effect, the IDUH, whatever you want to call it, was necessary for somebody to take control of her or his life and create something meaningful. In my studying of the most successful people in the world, this is the formula for success. Many of them document a specific turning point in their lives when things finally started to click, pessimism turned to hope, ideas turned to pursuits. Oftentimes tragedy had to strike for them to realize you only get one life (sorry, but I will not write YOLO in a serious sentence, I will not do it), and they needed to start crafting it the way that they wanted, rather than allowing life to lead them. But I figure, why wait for the perfect timing, or the perfect alignment of the stars to start sharing best practices with other people and inspire them? I am in the midst of my Getting COMFY journey—writing this book and adapting to new endeavors—I practice this 5-step ritual to dissolve the pressures associated with these life events, and my aim for you is to work alongside your tour guide, rather than follow him.

Your book contains a lot of anecdotes and humor. Why did you take this approach?

I wanted this book to feel different than the majority of self-help books out there. I didn’t want to act like a guru, but rather I wanted to act like a peer, going through the journey with the reader. The book is all about Getting COMFY in your own skin, in any situation, and I wanted to make myself vulnerable, and share with readers my most personal and intimate stories so they could Get COMFY with me.

What do you hope readers will take away from this?

If it makes you think a bit differently or makes you change just 1 thing, I feel like the book did what it was supposed to.

Why do you find mornings to be so important?

Winning the morning gives you a leg up on the rest of the day. No matter what happens, no matter what life throws at you, you can think back and know that you had an amazing morning. When you wake up startled, anxious, and stressed, it is important to focus on yourself in the morning before you have to approach the mundane realities of the rest of the day.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I’m a personal trainer, and was a ranked Words With Friends Player! I also love to cook!

Throughout the book, you give readers a deep glimpse into your personal life. Was that hard to do?

It was hard, but it was such an important part of the process. I wanted people to feel as COMFY with me as possible, and I also wanted to keep it as light as possible. I have a lot of funny, touching, and warm stories from growing up that can relate to millennials, our parents, grandparents, and younger generations as well.

What has the reaction to this book been like so far? Was it anything you expected?

It has been greater than anything I could have imagined. This is a great time to thank and acknowledge all of the incredible support I have received from my family and friends. The downloads, reviews and feedback have been amazing, and it was just announced as a best seller on Amazon!

Your book isn't too specific or formulaic in telling your readers what to do but leaves a flexible framework rather than a strict regimen. Why?

I’m always trying to be a little different, reinvent the wheel to speak. I didn’t want this to be a one size fits all method like so many other personal development books. I want it to feel approachable, and I want the reader to create and make it their own, just as I did.

Is there something that compels you to write? And do you find that writing helps you achieve a clarity about yourself or ideas you've been struggling with?

Add value to others without expecting anything in return. This is my life mentality and motto. Writing allows me to relay my message and influence as many people as possible.

Talk to us a bit about your writing habits. Do you write early in the morning, or through the night? Pen or laptop?

I write every morning as the Y part of my COMFY routine! It means YOU or Your Passion, and I spent 30 minutes to an hour writing until I completed the book! I’m also constantly thinking throughout the day. I take notes in my phone or in my notebook and come back to them when I’m writing the next day.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

Getting COMFY: Your Morning Guide to Daily Happiness http://getting-comfy.com/ (email list)

Media:

http://getting-comfy.com/blog/ (blog)

https://twitter.com/Getting_COMFY?lang=en (twitter)

https://www.instagram.com/getting_comfy/ (Instagram)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079DX26HS (Amazon)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38311791-getting-comfy (Goodreads)