Read This If You Want To Go Faster
One of the things that makes us efficient with our time is repetition.
If we do something for the first time, it's usually clunky and awkward.
After a few practice runs, we get the hang of it, and we become faster at the same motion.
This is true if you're practicing piano, learning to ski, or playing chess.
It's true for both physical and mental types of work.
So, naturally, one of the ways to get improve your efficiency is repetition.
Repetition makes us faster.
And one of the benefits of going faster is that we can do the same thing we used to do but with more brain capacity.
So, now, instead of thinking really hard about which chord to play on a guitar, we can just rock out and kick some amps over like rockstars because we just have to think "play an A chord" and our hands just do it by themselves.
The same goes for work and business.
Once you have your process in place, you get your time back so you can focus on new improvements or new innovations.
The important thing to realize is that the only way to do this is by iterating and reiterating.
We start on one, small, valuable thing first--and then move on to the next layer, feature, service, profit center, or business unit.
One. At. A. Time.
Looking back, you'll see all the amazing progress.
You'll say, "oh my gosh, I can't believe we used to do things like that."
But today, it's just going to look like today.
2 Minute Action:
What is the smallest but still valuable step you could take, today?
It doesn't even matter if you have a vision or not--sometimes just taking the first steps to help you see what's possible or what you want.
Here are some examples of first steps:
- If you were just laid off, a first step might be posting to your social network and letting people know you're looking for work.
- If you are developing a new program for a school, a first step might be creating a list of reasons programs have failed at that school before.
- If you are building a website, a first step might be building a Powerpoint that "fakes" the site's features and can still be used as a walkthrough on a sales call.
- If you are learning to play the piano, a first step might be watching a YouTube video on how to hit a C chord.
- If you are opening a food truck, a first step might be a cookout with family and friends.
Take 2 minutes and do something small and valuable to move forward.
It has to be both.
Give This Up And You Can Go After Anything You Want
Getting stuck is normal.Having “writer’s block” is normal.Not seeing the next step or the solution is normal.
The hard part isn’t always thinking through the problem.
The hard part is usually just starting to move in a direction that’s close.Once you’re moving, it’s harder for others to tell you why it won’t work.
Once you’re moving, the game is just about adjusting the course to suit your mission.
Give up the idea that the trajectory has to look like what you think or want it to look like: because it will never look that way.If you give up this idea or predetermined vision for what your path will look like, you can actually focus on what’s ahead and how to adapt.
2 Minute Action
Do sit-ups for 2 minutes.Email your boss to tell them about the idea you have.Write a blog post instead of the whole first chapter of your novel.None of these things are huge or what people imagine themselves doing to move toward their goals, and that’s exactly the point.Just 2 minutes can get the ball rolling, and that’s all you need.Don’t get caught up on how you roll the ball, because that’s just an inconsequential distraction.
There's No Secret To Waking Up Motivated--But This Gets Me Close
"Motivation doesn't last. Neither does a shower." - Zig Ziglar
2 quick ways to kill motivation?
Obligation and guilt.Do it because you care.Do it because you want to.That's way more powerful.And it turns out, it's way more sustainable.The only trick is that you'll need to remind yourself that you care.iOS reminders. Letters to yourself. A time capsule. Post-its on the bathroom mirror.There are a million ways--but you have to make it happen.You don't have to know all the answers right now.You don't have to have some giant epiphany.You just have to start reflecting on your values and interests.What do you like and what do you think is important?What do you find yourself NOT being able to stop doing?Start there and good things will happen.
2 Minute Action
It will take you 1 minute to write down 3 things you care about.It will take you less than 1 minute to ask Siri/Alexa/etc. to remind you about these in 3 months or to text a friend to check in on your progress in 6 weeks.The secret is that big things are actually made up of lots of small, actionable things.Everyone has 2 minutes. You can do this.