Progress is easy…
Progress boils down to this extremely simple concept:
- Make time for what moves the needle and do it consistently over an extended period of time.
I’ve been thinking lately about what I can do to ensure I’m moving the needle and making progress towards my goals.
It’s easy to spend months or even years “working” on something, only to realize you haven’t moved beyond square one.
This is easy to do when you’re stuck in “learning mode” and never applying the things you’re learning to a project.
When you’re only consuming content – this result is common.
Reading books, taking courses, or watching lectures is beneficial only when these concepts and practices are applied to your own real-world project.
This is the exact reason you can’t expect to attend four years of college, snag your diploma, and find yourself ready to dive into a highly technical job in your field.
Typically, you’ve spent the past four years learning ABOUT the thing, not actually applying it in a project-based environment.
This leaves a majority of young adults unprepared.
Apply It or Forget It
I’m a huge fan of projects.
I talk about them a lot. But there’s a reason for it.
Projects are goals in organized form.
Two years ago, I was working a 9-5 job and planning my escape. During that time, I was actively working on various projects that would allow me to bridge the gap between “9-5 employment” and “self-employment.”
If it wasn’t for these projects, I’d still be stuck in that dissatisfied routine.
Projects have allowed me to apply the things I’m learning and test the waters of how things work in case-by-case scenarios.
Learning about how to use a camera is one thing.
But picking it up, experimenting with the settings, and capturing your first 500 photos will force you to learn 100x more.
This is how to I strive to approach every project: Pick up the darn camera!
Make Time for What Matters
In my daily writing habit, I’ve been noticing more and more of a familiar pattern.
It’s necessary to make time for what matters.
The time won’t “make” itself. You have to be intentional about putting it on the calendar.
- Wake up earlier.
- Go to bed later.
- Work it into your schedule.
You must identify what things allow you to make progress, and do everything you can to protect designated times to do that thing.
If you work on what matters consistently enough over an extended period of time – success is inevitable.
Imagine writing a book for example:
I remember thinking as a kid… how in the world does someone go about writing 250+ pages of a book?
It seemed impossible to comprehend.
But recently I’ve come to realize that a book is written one day at a time.
After a bit of research, I found that the average non-fiction book contains 50,000-80,000 words. My current routine consists of writing 1,000+ words each day. In theory, I could write 50k-80k words in less than three months.
However, writing a book requires a more focused approach on a singular vision. (I fully understand that writing a book is not as simple as it sounds, haha)
But when you look at writing a book through a day-by-day approach – it’s much less intimidating.
As the saying goes, “eat the elephant one bite at a time.”
The same goes for your biggest goals.
Consistency Creates Momentum
The two main tasks I’ve been focusing on each day are:
- Writing
- Walking
I’ve learned these two things bring the most clarity to my thinking, and the most confidence to my actions.
Writing allows me to create content. Walking allows me to generate new ideas and reframe my thinking.
Everything I’m working towards is propelled by writing.
Writing becomes:
- YouTube video scripts
- Newsletters (like this one)
- Blog posts
- Course curriculum (for my upcoming course)
And beyond the tangible forms of writing mentioned above – writing is my favorite form of reflection.
Writing provides:
- mental clarity
- solidifies new ideas
- digests new information
- concentration and focus
- a creative outlet
There are few things that writing doesn’t improve in my life.
When I make time for what matters to me, I’m more likely to repeat that action again and again.
I’ve found that consistency leads to confidence.
I build confidence in myself. I begin to trust that I can make time for these important tasks again tomorrow.
Doing something every single day creates momentum that makes it difficult to stop, because I don’t want to let myself down.
Continue this streak for 6-12 months, and your life will inevitably change for the better.
A Question for You
- What task can you make time for each day, knowing that it will improve your life for the better?
–Eric Pfohl