The 365 Commitment

Day 165 – Value of Plus One

Last night I was bragging, yes bragging, about my new accomplishment of doing 115 pushups, situps, and squats everyday I discovered something. Someone who is NOT doing pushups everyday, or running everyday or waking up at 5am everyday now listens to what I am saying with a bit of awe.

This is funny to me. I was exactly that way 116 days ago. I heard a talk by David Goggins and I was in absolute awe as well, and still am frankly. He makes my 5 miles this morning and 115 pushups look like the work of a lazy child. However, I can absolutely see how he got there now. That is NOT amazing, it is incredibly simple.

It is just simply +1.

Everyday I add more, and by slow increment I get better. You are not going to be able to do 100+  pushups in  the morning today, or even tomorrow. However, I bet you can do 1. Then tomorrow, you can probably do 2. That is what I did and slowly adding +1, I am building strength, confidence and will power.

Months ago when I barely got to 20 pushups I was thinking this is nuts. There is no way I can keep adding pushups. I could barely lift myself that 20th time off the ground. However, I now blow past 20 without even thinking about it. Plus 1 has real power to habit forming.  A new and very worthwhile discovery for me.

Can I apply +1 to my life in other areas? I believe I can. I am working on implementing a new system to help improve my team at work this week. I have been planning it for quite sometime, and I have noticed that I am doing the same thing I was doing before I started doing +1 pushups. I am thinking and planning my way to no action, no execution on the idea.

Rather, I should just come up with a simple formula and execute on it. Figure out something that I can add everyday, +1 style, and just start doing. It will be weak and lame at start – but then in 115 days from now – I will be at another dinner party bragging about my new process at my work and everyone will be in awe about the great accomplishment. I will think in my mind, that is funny, it was not great at all. I just added one everyday.

My new 365 Commitment. Building Habits starts with +1.

Guy Reams (165)
365 Member

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