Our journey in life is about making progress. It’s not about perfection. It’s not about doing your one thing 100% better. It is a matter of doing 100 things, 1% better each day. In training and coaching, I focus on doing just 1% per day. That way in 100 days, we are nearly complete. Focusing on too many things all at one time may be counterproductive resulting in frustration and ultimately feeling a lack of accomplishment at anything at all.
I try to be an avid reader. It is a little like exercising for me. I don’t necessarily enjoy the exercise part. But, I do enjoy the results. Feeling better. Feeling better about myself. Having my clothes fit better even loose. I enjoy the feeling of “feeling” better. Perhaps I even enjoy the looking better at my age! Whatever that may be. Reading is a lot like that. I know that I must be well read to compete. I feel it gives me an edge over my competitors. My learning is a daily process. Through reading I feel like I’m gaining an edge so to speak. Think about this. The average person reads one book per year. If you read just one book per month, and can apply just one concept from each to your life, when the average person has read 5 books at the end of five years, you would have read 60 books. Do you think you would have learned more? Absolutely!
Unlike in our microwave society, in reality things do not come immediately. What matters the most? Showing up for your life whether you feel like it or not. And so I ask myself and perhaps if you are like me maybe you can pose this question as well. “What two or three little things can I do today that would move me forward?” Can I be more positive? Can I smile just a little bit more? How can I be an example for someone today? Can I make a difference to just one person today?
You’d be amazed at how much distance you can cover by taking it in smaller increments. You don’t have to be great to start. But, you do have to start to be great! The little things all add up: the inches turn into miles; we string together our efforts like so many pearls. Before long, look what you have – a whole strand.
Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t compare yourself to others. Only make a comparison to who you were yesterday. Can I be or do just a little bit better today? You Bet.
Our next posting will be “Three words that can change your life.” Looking forward to it!
John Leadershiplived.com