If you are struggling to make progress, there are a couple of reasons to look at immediately. The first is focus. Are you focused enough to make progress forward? If you are distracted and your energy is diluted by working on too many things, this could be the culprit. The second is consistency. Are you consistently putting in a daily amount of effort sufficient for progress to be realized? Often, we take too many gaps in our effort, so we can never gain momentum. Inertia requires consistent and constant effort to get things going. The third is placing our effort toward the most meaningful activities. This is what this article will address. Determining if our effort is focused on the right things.
If you are struggling to make progress, there are a couple of reasons to look at immediately. The first is focus. Are you focused enough to make progress forward? If you are distracted and your energy is diluted by working on too many things, this could be the culprit. The second is consistency. Are you consistently putting in a daily amount of effort sufficient for progress to be realized? Often, we take too many gaps in our effort, so we can never gain momentum. Inertia requires consistent and constant effort to get things going. The third is placing our effort toward the most meaningful activities. This is what this article will address. Determining if our effort is focused on the right things.
Litmus Test for Effective Focus
There is a litmus test you can use to determine if your effort is focused on the activity that will be the most impactful. Two questions to ponder. What am I the most afraid to do? What am I the most reluctant to do because of the perceived difficulty? Answer these two questions, and you will generally know the area to focus your energies. Overcome these areas, and you will break through what is holding you back from progression. I have found that these areas are always holding me back from progress.
The Rarity of Success
It is surprising how much time and energy we will spend on anything other than the actual work that will make the most progress. Usually, it is the thing that most people are unwilling to do that will hold someone back from being successful. There is a reason that there are only a select few people who are successful in a given area, and that is because they are willing to do what no one else is. This is also why the success continues to accelerate. They become good at the hard part.
Identifying and Conquering Stumbling Blocks
The thing that holds you back can become your greatest strength. The stumbling block that stands in your way can quickly become your stepping stone. When I was a child, my mom did a project where she painted several small rocks to give to people she was presenting to. I do not remember the exact purpose, but she was painting the phrase “stumbling block” on one side and “stepping stone” on the other. She employed my help. After painting 20 or 30 rocks, I think the message got through to me. I will always remember this phrase – you can turn your stumbling block into a stepping stone.
Embracing the Path to Progress
There is a litmus test you can use to determine if your effort is focused on the activity that will be the most impactful. Two questions to ponder. What am I the most afraid to do? What am I the most reluctant to do because of the perceived difficulty? Answer these two questions, and you will generally know the area to focus your energies. Overcome these areas, and you will break through what is holding you back from progression. I have found that these areas are always holding me back from progress.
The Rarity of Success
It is surprising how much time and energy we will spend on anything other than the actual work that will make the most progress. Usually, it is the thing that most people are unwilling to do that will hold someone back from being successful. There is a reason that there are only a select few people who are successful in a given area, and that is because they are willing to do what no one else is. This is also why the success continues to accelerate. They become good at the hard part.
Identifying and Conquering Stumbling Blocks
The thing that holds you back can become your greatest strength. The stumbling block that stands in your way can quickly become your stepping stone. When I was a child, my mom did a project where she painted several small rocks to give to people she was presenting to. I do not remember the exact purpose, but she was painting the phrase “stumbling block” on one side and “stepping stone” on the other. She employed my help. After painting 20 or 30 rocks, I think the message got through to me. I will always remember this phrase – you can turn your stumbling block into a stepping stone.
Embracing the Path to Progress
Your path to progression will be full of stumbling blocks—that is the way. You must figure out the most intimidating ones and resolve how to use them to your advantage. This is the path of the most successful and the most productive. What is it that you are the most reluctant to do? Pick that and focus on it until it is no longer a problem for you.
