Achieving Goals By Doing Less

Not to brag, but I once did 1,010 pushups in a week. That sounds like a big deal, right? And no, I don’t consider myself particularly active, athletic, or fit.

“How?” You may ask then, did a sixty-something dad accomplish a nearly Olympian feat?

The answer stems from two main ideas:

Setting up a series of small, individual triggers and steps can effectuate a habit in your behavior. And that small habit can lead to a bigger goal.?

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear explains this concept in greater detail.

Oftentimes, we believe that we have to be intrinsically motivated to achieve results. But in reality, the results drive the motivation, hence the concept of the myth — from the book “Motivational Myth” by Jeff Haden.

As with any daunting task, that number of pushups sounds incredibly big, but if we break it down, we realize that we CAN accomplish it through a series of very small steps.

The Pareto principle shows us that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. So, identify and focus on the vital tasks that yield the most significant outcomes.

We’re going to talk about how to implement these tasks in a way that can create big change:

Step 1: Set Up for Success by Establishing Daily Triggers

Identify a Routine Space: Choose a familiar area you frequent daily. Consistent use of a familiar space helps establish a mental association between that location and the practice itself. Over time, being in that space triggers your mind to prepare to initiate the practice.

Designate an Action Item: Assign a specific object or task related to your goal. Placing this item in a visible location creates a visual prompt that nudges you to engage in your task.

Commit to a Daily Action: Incorporate a small, manageable action into your routine. Your daily action could be as short as five minutes. The simplicity of the task ensures it doesn't disrupt your schedule significantly and makes it more likely for you to commit to it daily.

In my pushup example, I started by doing 10 pushups every time I entered a specific room in my house, gradually increasing the number over time.?

Step 2: Track Your Progress

Use a Visual Tracker: Implement a simple tracking method, such as a calendar or checklist. Seeing consecutive days or tasks checked off creates a sense of achievement and momentum, encouraging you to keep going.

Consistent Monitoring: Keep your tracking method easily accessible for continuous monitoring. If you're using a physical tracker like a calendar, place it in a visible location you encounter frequently as a visual reminder to update your progress regularly.

In my pushup example, I used a calendar taped to the wall near the door with a pen and tracked my progress daily.

Step 3: Mindset Strategies

Employ Mental Tricks: Implement methods to perceive smaller tasks while accomplishing more. Tackling a big project in small sections helps concentrate on one part at a time, making the overall task less intimidating. Celebrating the completion of each section reinforces a sense of progress and motivates you to continue.

Building Consistent Habits: Focus on forming a streak of continuous action. The ultimate aim isn't merely to achieve a numerical target but to establish a consistent habit. It's akin to creating an unbroken chain of daily actions, a technique famously utilized by many successful individuals.

In my pushup example, I used a technique I learned in the Army. Instead of counting each pushup, I only counted every other pushup to trick my brain into believing I only had to do half as many reps.

With persistent effort, significant milestones become more attainable:

• Starting with a manageable number of daily actions leads to a cumulative impact over time.
• Gradually increasing the intensity or frequency of these actions results in reaching broader, more ambitious objectives.

The core principle lies in simplifying complex goals into manageable, repeatable actions.?

By prioritizing the process over fixating on the result, success becomes feasible and sustainable across various aspects of life and work.

When you take the tiny steps necessary to build a long-term habit, you can accomplish that goal with very little effort simply by maintaining and sticking to the process more than focusing on the outcome.

Applying These Steps to LinkedIn

To be successful on LinkedIn, begin with small steps. I recommend leaving 3 comments a day on a variety of posts. This gets you in the habit of checking your LinkedIn daily without spending much time.?

As you get comfortable with the routine, add a post each week. With a little bit of effort, you start to build a consistent presence on LinkedIn that will expand your reach and brand.

This is an example of how you can develop a practice in your own life by utilizing small goals and identifying the small steps, to achieve a much bigger, broader goal.