So it happened again.
I admit it, Seth Godin (who you may remember inspired the start of this blog) did it again by writing about what might happen on the day everyone is pleased with their work.
It’s basically a “now what” scenario.
You spend so much time working towards that day only to feel…
- let down
- critical of the result
- and disappointed in yourself
His post also relates to what I think of as magical, someday thinking.
I know, I know. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it because you’re still living like there is a someday.
And yet, every single day someone dreams of someday.
Each day those thoughts move you closer and closer to a state of complacency and toleration. Months, even years go by and the dream becomes vague, a wishful memory.
For the love of whatever you believe in, it is time to get over this.
Which brings me to the 1% solution.
Let’s say you take one small action every day.
Just one.
And that one action improved by 1% in some small way, every day, consistently for one year. At the end of the year you’d be a whopping 38 times improved, which would definitely have you moving toward your dream.
Maybe you think that sounds relentless, but relentless produces results.
3 Steps to Your 1%
1. Stop making yourself wrong for not having it all together. Stop waiting to get your ducks in a row and start from where you are right now.
What’s the one thing you could do today to get your dream rolling?
2. Show up. As Steven Pressfield says, “There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t and the secret is this: it’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write.”
Whether it’s writing or your dream, you’ve got to do what it takes to show up. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a stack of reasons and very few results. That will lead you back to #1 which is probably a vicious cycle you’re familiar with.
Make the time and show up.
3. Be yourself. Stop wasting your precious time and energy trying to make others happy. It will get you nowhere.
You were born to shine exactly the way you are and even exactly the way you’re not. Stop trying so damn hard and just be yourself. Those that don’t appreciate you won’t stick around, and those that do will become your raving fans and trusted friends.
Your dream is worth the effort, and it IS effort at first.
But this is your one precious life and it’s time to start treating it (and your dream) with all the love and respect you can muster.
You know I’m relentless about this, so do me a favour and take that one action.
I really freakin’ hated that book, lol (we need a whole book, complete with made-up secret cabal of achievers just to tell us to try a little harder? Really?). But I love your post. 🙂 How is it that complacency seems so natural, so easy to slip into?
I was intrigued by the idea not the book itself! I think change comes about incrementally – at least the kind of change that sticks! I’ve experienced too many high adrenalin weekend workshops and programs whose impact vanished within days, and I think too many people minimize the cumulative effect of something like the 1% idea. Instant gratification is seductive!
As for the lure of complacency, hello lizard brain! Gotta thank the little mofo for keeping us safe and alive!
I’m late to the game but you’re spot on with this post. Resonates w/Godin’s continued push for people to focus on the doing and the delivery over the worry and maybe life.
Thanks for this reminder.
Todd
@tojosan:twitter
It’s easy to get caught up in the worry and what ifs and it takes courage to take action. That’s why focus on the consistent small actions works!
You know what I love about this?
That it is so do-able.
No secret sauce, no special skills required.
No but first I’ve got to … Of course that also means no excuses!
I think keeping it small and consistent sneaks by the lizard brain! The trigger doesn’t get fired and there’s no (or very little) resistance. That’s my experience of this.
That was a great article by our Colin, @icecolbeveridge:twitter written for our month focusing on growth. When you see it in terms of just 1% improvement, anything really is possible. 🙂
Thanks Ryah! When we chunk it right down to 1% or 1 small action or 10 minutes like you were doing, anything IS possible.
Sandi, you rock, because 1% I can do. It is easy to become overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. We forget the simplicity of breaking it down into bite sized chunks. That is where the beauty of real transformation exists, in the small simple steps.
We can ALL do 1% Sam which is why I love this idea! Bite sized chunks and totally doable – gotta love it 😉
I really like the idea of 1% because it’s achievable.
That’s another great article to help us move forward.
Eugen
Thanks Eugen! I think people forget or don’t realize how quickly that 1% can add up!