SUMMARY – The most important success tip: Major accomplishments are the result of persistent small steps.

Happy 2022! It’s a new year. Many individuals are pursuing their New Year’s Resolutions. Many organizations are too – via their strategic planning.

For both, there will be a tendency to never start, give up, or get distracted with the next one or two months.

A Lesson From College and Fitness

I discovered something as a college undergrad. If I just showed up for class and turned in the homework – I would probably get a decent grade.

That’s about all it took.

Now, I actually put in more effort than that. But I noticed that every year, every class suffered attrition. Students signed up and then, after a few weeks, disappeared.

Many more students stayed on but often didn’t make it to class. Or didn’t complete their assignments.

In comparison, rising “to the top” was mostly a matter of just showing up.

Getting a degree says less about what someone knows and more about their ability to do something consistently. Smarts and skills mattered less than just doing the work.

Fitness is the same way. This time of year, many people buy new gym memberships, get new equipment, and wear fancy new workout duds. They are resolved to hit their new health and fitness goals.

In a couple of months, most will discard and forget their goals. Workouts were too early, the instructor wasn’t nice enough, weights were so heavy, the road so long, gym air smells funny, the donuts were so sweet, the shorts chafed.

Something. There is always something. So, they quit.

Talent and genetics matter less than just doing the work.

If they were consistent, even very simple changes (such as drinking one less soda a day and taking a short daily walk) will make a real difference. Especially over the years.

Maybe not beach body difference. But it will make a health kind of a difference.

Consistency makes the difference.

Here’s one simple tip that will help you keep moving and be successful.

Identify what is most important to you or your organization this year.

Determine what small steps are needed to take to make that thing happen. Keep them small. Keep them manageable.

Then identify what simple behaviors are needed to ensure you’ll take those small steps. Maybe setting an alarm. Maybe finding a workout buddy. Maybe blocking time in your calendar.

Then take those steps. Regularly.

Over time, you’ll accomplish something that others won’t.

Wrapping It Up

Early in my career, a mentor of mine frequently used to say, “Don’t despise small beginnings.”

He was speaking to two things:

• Don’t get frustrated that the beginning feels so far away from the end.
• Be willing to keep moving.

That’s my encouragement to you.

Don’t give up. Know where you are going and keep doing the kind of things that move you in that direction.

Big steps or small steps. Keep taking steps.

Take good care,

Christian

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In the podcast Thought Leaders Driving Returns (TLDR), I’m interviewed by host Hunter Guthrie about how important mindset is in leadership and about effecting cultural change in the face of transition.  LISTEN HERE.

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