Progress compounds.
We live in an instant gratification world.
We eat a salad and don’t understand why the next day the scale doesn’t budge. We send a text and then look at our phones 30 seconds after and wonder why the other person is taking so long to respond.
The expectation of instant gratification is the killer of progress.
When you want to achieve a result, especially if it is a big one, you can’t go into it expecting that a) it will be easy, or b) it will be quick. You have to approach it understanding that your gratification is likely to be delayed. And that there might be some bumps in the road. And you might have to try a couple times before you get it right.
But it will happen if you stick with it.
If you make just a little bit of progress every day, you’ll get just a little bit closer to what you want. And a little bit of progress at a time is much more manageable than the whole thing at once. But most people don’t even get started because they think that little bit of progress isn’t worth it. They get overwhelmed before they even start.
If I want to write a book, and I write just one page at a time, a year from now, I’ll have written a 365 page book. A page a day is barely anything, maybe 300 words. But if I want to write a book, and think that one page a day won’t get me anywhere, a year from now I’ll still have nothing.
If I want to lose weight and cut back just 200 calories a day for 6 months, I’ll have cut 36,500 calories from my diet, or the equivalent of 248 12oz. Coca-Colas. But if I think 200 calories a day isn’t worth it, the scale will never change.
If I want to build a successful program, and I do something productive each day that helps me move toward my goal, I’ll eventually get there. If I think it’s too hard and choose instead to wallow and whine, I’ll never get there. And then I’ll beat myself up about how I never did anything about it.
Do nothing, get nothing. Change nothing and nothing changes.
Small, aligned progress over time leads to big results.
In fact, small consistent progress is easier to do and maintain. Most people grow and improve more consistently, quickly, and sustainably when doing something that is *just* outside their comfort zone. Not too far, just a little bit. And then when they get comfortable with that, they go just a bit further. And then again. Over time, you build on your prior success and go just a little further than you did before.
Imagine if you did one thing every day, or heck even every other day, to move toward your goal. Where would you be a year from now? I’m not talking about being busy. I’m not talking about doing “stuff.” I’m talking about something that’s productive.
Want to engage more families? Make one more connection call every day.
Want more school partners? Reach out to one more potential prospect every day.
Want to increase your visibility? Find one new or different way to make your message heard.
Want to get noticed? Do something different.
The common theme here is that you have to do something. Success, accomplishment, positive change…they aren’t going to find you. No one else can do it for you. You have to find it for yourself. Even if it means starting small.
What small action can you take right now to move yourself forward? I’d love to hear from you. Share in the comments!
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