An object in motion stays in motion.
Momentum is so powerful, it might as well be up there with the great super powers of flying, super strength, the lasso of truth, and even laser vision.
MintROI Tool #7 : Get moving now
- It doesn’t really matter what your goal is, but make a goal. That’s step one.
- Next, make your goal specific and measurable. This may take several renditions, and that’s OK.
- Next, determine what it takes to achieve your goal.
- Next, determine how you do that. Work your way backwards until you get to the smallest next step that’s very reasonable to take.
- Gain momentum. Start with the small steps and chip away at them every day until you’re rolling and grooving. Before you know it, you’ll have reached your #1 goal.
Examine this in action
Step 1: Start with a goal
I have a goal to help others <–Super awesome, but also vague and who knows when I’ll achieve this
Step 2: Make that goal very specific
I have a goal to provide others with information that the outside world may not be providing them <—A little more concrete, but still pretty vague
I have a goal to run a blog where people can find life hacks <–getting there
I have a goal to run a blog where people can find timeless life lessons or “tools” that help them succeed at work <–much better. Still could use some work, but I’ve achieved step 2 and can always continue to refine another day.
Step 3: What do I need?
To do this goal, I need
- Write blog-worthy articles
- Set up a blog site
- Get an audience
- Make this sustainable
Step 4: Break it down to the very next step
If I need to write blog-worthy articles, I have to start with writing articles in general. Maybe I need to start with something even smaller, a list of ideas to write about. I need to practice writing. I need time to write. I need a computer (or a pen) and blank paper. I need to type my first word. Now.
Step 5: Harvest the power of momentum
Here’s the magic step. Now I have to create a habit out of all the very next steps so that I can build it into my everyday life. For my sub-goal of writing, I’m going to schedule time to write 500 words a day. I could have said 1000. I could have said 100. What’s important is that I am doing this action daily.
That makes Shanda, writing is something you need to practice to get good. So it makes sense that you’ll have to do it daily. But I don’t think I could work on my goals daily.
Oh you of little faith. Let’s rewind to step 3 and pick on something else. What about setting up a blog.
Step 4: Break it down to the very next step
To set up a blog, I need to know what a blog is. I need to look at my options for creating a blog. Do I build a website myself, do I outsource my website? To figure this out, I need to know what it would take to build it myself (time and a lot of education in an area that I have very little experience) or outsource it (money). I don’t have much time, so I’m going to outsource. I also don’t have much money, so what are my options? I need to find out what those options are, but how? I need to call places. Ok, to do that, I need to find a list of places to call. Ok to do that I need to get on the internet and research some options. Ok, so I need a computer and internet and time to research – that’s easy. I can do that now.
Step 5: Harvest the power of momentum
If on the first day, I use all my time researching places. On the next day I need to use my time contacting them. And then comparing options. And then making a decision. And then acting on it. I don’t need to do one step a day. I just need to do at least one step every day. There will be days when I’m enjoying what I’m doing or I have more time to do it. On those days, I’ll do more. There will be days when it’s hard to do anything, and on those days, I just need to do one thing. Once I do that one thing, I rejoice because it brought me one step closer to my goal.
If you really want to achieve something, then put that something first. That means all your other assumptions about that something and all your other competing goals out there take a back seat (time, money, family….have I hit a nerve yet???). Don’t worry about time, the time will pass anyway. Don’t worry about the money, it should never be your starting point. If your goal is strong enough, the providence will come. Don’t worry about your family (eek!!! This one I can’t say because that’s my primary love…and I hope never again to have a goal that doesn’t put my family first). But you get the idea. Choose goals that align with your true top priorities then harness the power of momentum to get headed in the right direction and the rest will fall in place.
As with all things, this post didn’t come out of thin air. Inspirational credits belong to:
David Allen: Getting Things Done
Sam Crowley http://everydayissaturday.com/
HTE 371: Improving with Actions not Tasks | Heath Armstrong https://hacktheentrepreneur.com/
Tony Robbins: Awaken the Giant Within
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