Thought this might be helpful to some
melbbr4
My neighbor has a beautiful yard. It is one of the most beautifully
manicured pieces of property you will ever see. There is not so much
as a blade of grass that is out of place. Compare this to my yard and
it is easy to see the difference. Some time back I decided to do
something about this. My front area was in decent shape. However,
the back section was overlooked for over a year. Other than mowing
lawn, nothing else was done. It was a task that I was determined to
complete.
Many people tend to be all or nothing types. They will do something
completely or else they will not even begin the activity. I am no
exception to the personality type. My training in action management
developed the habit of focusing on a task until it is finished.
Naturally, this is ideal if that project is small in size. In this
instance, the debris piled up in my back yard was a rather large
undertaking. To clear away a year's worth of wreckage in a day was
not feasible. I needed to formulate a way to handle this.
My solution came to me by watching the same neighbor. One morning I
was drinking my coffee on my front porch. Looking over I noticed him
working in his yard. What struck me this morning is that he was
simply picking up some debris that had fallen. After that he pulled a
few weeds from a flower bed. Finally, he edged the driveway. The
total time that he spent out there was less than 30 minutes. Could
having a perfect yard be that easy. I decided to watch him again the
next day. Sure enough, he was out there again. This time he watered
the plants, trimmed some bushes, and took all the debris to the curb.
His total time invested was about the same as the day before.
That gave me the secret. He accomplished the ultimate goal of a
beautiful yard by doing a little bit everyday. This got me thinking
about how I approached things. Could this be one of the keys to
success? As I pondered this idea, I realized that it was the
breakthrough that would take my life to a new level. It always amazes
me how a simple yet profound idea can radically alter our
capabilities. Do a little bit everyday has since become my new action
management foundation.
This is a concept that many use naturally. However, few give it
conscious thought to see how it can be implemented to help one make
incredible progress. Exercising is a prime example of this idea.
People work out for a period of 45 minutes to an hour 3 to 4 days a
week. This is how one achieves the best results. Compare this to one
who goes to the gym 1 day a week and works out for 8 hours. What
results do you think he or she will achieve? Probably the same that
we got in other areas of our lives. The same is true for authors. A
writer might complete an article in one sitting. Nevertheless, a
novel is written over a longer time period. Many of the best authors
condition themselves to write for an hour or two everyday. Amazingly,
6 months later the book is completed. Doing a little everyday holds
magical power.
Behind this philosophy is consistency. This is something that most
people lack in their lives. While it is true that each day is similar
to every other, people rarely make a conscious decision to be
consistent. Utilizing this mindset automatically produces
consistency. It is an under appreciated habit but one that is highly
rewarded. Employers love people who behave in this manner. It
enables them to know exactly what to expect. Planning is much easier
when those involved operate in a consistent way. Any sales
organization values the steady producer over the one who is the
superstar one month and the goat the next. Organizations depend upon
a steady flow of income to keep operating.
The best way to apply this idea is to consider a few different
projects that you want/need to complete. I found it most beneficial
to have 4-5 going at a time. This can be anything such as cleaning up
the yard, studying a particular subject, reading or writing a book, or
making renovations. Work tasks can be handled in the same manner.
Once the projects are determined, dedicate a certain amount of time
daily to each activity. Decide in advance how much time will be spent
and stick to it. This will enable you to make progress in 4 or 5
areas simultaneously. Initially, it takes some patience since
activities are not getting done instantly. However, after a few
weeks, you will notice that you accomplished more. Our motivation
remains high since we avoid burnout. Too often people spend a lot of
time on one activity struggling to get it done. The stress associated
with that takes a lot out of us. After completion, the natural desire
is to 'take a break'. Doing a little each day allows us to move
forward at a steady pace while maintaining a high degree of
accomplishment.
Dennis Harting is the Head Coach at Your Rich Life. He is an
acclaimed speaker, trainer, and best-selling author. His
international best selling books include Your Easiest Million and The
Ultimate Procrastination Handbook. He also has had thousands of
articles published worldwide. His programs and more information can
be found at http://www.yourrichlifeinc.com.