The last few days I have been reflecting on setting objectives for 365 days from now and determining what incremental things I am going to commit to doing everyday to get there. I have clearly established a few really good habits since starting The 365 Commitment and those habits are designed to help me achieve some ambitions. I am contemplating what to add I suppose! Honestly, 118 days ago I would have had a complete meltdown at the thought of praying twice a day, keeping a journal of important tasks everyday, writing a blog article once a day, waking up at 5am every morning, running everyday, doing pushups, situps, and squats everyday.
So yes, I am really contemplating adding yet another habit that helps me accomplish a life long ambition. Hard to believe really – and that has let me to this morning’s thought. What is success anyway?
I guess I could take the easy way out and say that success is having a good relationship with my family, friends, etc. However is that really the easy way out? Clearly not – because if I were to truly judge myself on that outcome I would be failing! Funny how I always, in my mind, consider the really important things as my way to excuse my failure at accomplishing really trivial things (like making more money). Seriously though, if I really really wanted to have a better relationship with someone I care about then I am ready to include the primary ingredient for success?
What is the primary ingredient for success anyway? Well, this is a new opinion for me, it is the accumulation of the small things that you do everyday that eventually lead to an overwhelming preponderance. I look at it as a game of chess. Most people think that chess is won by the really smart person that can calculate many moves in advance and come up with a great combination that wins the game in a stunning checkmate. Although that does happen occasionally, chess is really won by a small accumulation of advantages until finally the opponent can no longer defend against the imbalance of the opposition. Small accumulation of advantages.
Many of us are always looking for the quick fix. The drug that instantly provides relief, the lottery win that solves my financial woes, the dream job that gets offered to you out of the blue one day, the contest that you win because finally people recognize your potential. Well, sorry to say, although there are a few where a quick fix has come and perhaps temporarily helped them – most people (that means you and I) will only find success through the small accumulation of effort we do each day.
Every day is important, because too often we will have a string of days, or weeks where we do nothing toward our goals or ambitions. We have a long drought where we are not heading in the right direction, but rather the opposite. We are like the hare in that instance. We spurt ahead, and then get side tracked – meanwhile the tortoises of the world are accumulating wealth, independence, and friendships.
Imagine if your ability to push ahead in a dramatic moment of furious activity was backed by consistent repetitive behaviors? I bet you that your life has been a history of pushing ahead, only to get tired and all forward progress just stops. The funny thing is that you think you are special, unique in that regard. Hate to break it to you – we are all like that! The rare person is the one that understands that although having a few “beast mode” days are good, the real forward progress is made with the consistent, ever persistent, daily routine of small accomplishments. This is the road least traveled.
What are you going to be consistent at? What is going to be your foundation? What are you going to incorporate into your daily life that will eventually become effort less for you? Success is going to come by the things that you are going to do consistently, effortless, everyday that are profitable to you.
This concept has been life changing for me. Welcome to the 365 commitment.
Guy Reams (118)
365 Member
Amen.