How To Build Momentum

Have you ever had the challenge as a leader to sustain or build positive momentum?

For me, it’s always a challenge to keep the “ball moving down the field” when it comes to sustaining positive momentum. It seems I often take one step forward only to take two steps back. Through my ups and downs in trying to build leadership momentum, I always come back to one key word that serves as a catalyst for momentum. That one word is FOCUS.

A while back I heard Dave Ramsey talk about the importance of FOCUS where he provided his Momentum Equation you see below. The following helps give a framework for his momentum theorem. I’ve included some content below that unpacks part of this theorem to give you a little more context when think about the importance of FOCUS. This content comes from Michael Hyatt as he unpacked what he heard Dave Ramsey share at an event he attended, the same event I heard Dave Ramsey reference this theorem. 

"Focused intensity over time multiplied by God creates unstoppable momentum.” - Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey made the astute observation that “When you have momentum, you look better than you are. When you don’t have momentum you are better than you look.” This is worth memorizing and sharing with your team.

Here’s a breakdown of Ramsey’s Momentum Theorem:

Momentum requires focused intensity

To gain incremental momentum in any area of our lives, we need to be laser focused on the desired outcome or goal we target. Momentum is not built without effort and sweat. It cannot be microwaved but must be built. This requires intense focus and discipline to stay committed to the goals you’ve set.

Distraction and multi-tasking are your enemies.

Momentum builds over time

Momentum builds on the investment you made the day or moment before. It builds over time and takes time to build. That’s a real challenge for us because most of what we want we can get very quickly. Momentum doesn’t work that way. Malcolm Gladwell demonstrate it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in anything in his book Outliers. That’s five work years!

Momentum is unstoppable

Dave Ramsey concluded by telling the story of Winston Churchill. In 1941, he was invited to give an address at Harrow School, his alma mater. In that brief speech, he said:

“Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Hyatt said “Dave Ramsey finished his talk by making Churchill’s words personal and exhorting us to never quit. It was a stirring, powerful speech. It made me realize that the momentum theorem applies to every area of life: personal development.

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