The Little Efforts Make All The Difference

Have you read or heard about the book The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy?

Years ago someone suggested I read it, and the message made so much sense that I continue to refer to the concept over and over again in my personal and professional life.

Here’s how Mr. Hardy describes the concept of The Compound Effect: “The Compound Effect is the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices. What’s most interesting about this process to me is that, even though the results are massive, the steps, at the moment, don’t feel significant.” – Darren Hardy

Seems simple right? Too often we’re so caught up in wanting everything right now that we fail to notice the progress we’re making when we keep moving toward a goal. The idea of baby steps just isn’t fast enough for our “instant access” attitude.

I struggle with my “instant access” attitude daily. Too often I’m lamenting over how long it’s taking to get my business to a particular benchmark. Yet people comment that they can’t believe how much my business has grown. In my mind, I’m thinking, “Oh, it’s taking forever for me to reach my goal, maybe I’ll never make it.”

Another downside to the “instant access” attitude is people wait until they have all the steps perfectly laid out before they get started. You might be surprised at how many times people tell me they want to wait to learn selling skills until their website is complete, their signature talk is perfected, they have more clients, etc. It’s as if they believe that once these things are done people will be flocking to them wanting to buy.

Learning selling skills is like anything, it takes practice and practice takes time. Many of the techniques I teach have what I call time release learning meaning that even though you often see results right away, it takes weeks, months or even years for selling to “come easy”.

The important thing that ultimately makes the difference is continuing to learn, do, and move even when it feels like you’re making very little progress.

For example, one of the things I work with clients on is the language of how to ask for someone’s business. Imagine inviting one more person to work with you this month and that person saying yes. Next month, by learning how to sell, you’re able to invite two more people to work with you, and they both say yes. Applying the compound effect, the following month it will be four more customers. In just three months, imagine bringing in seven new clients. What would that do for your business? For most entrepreneurs, this would be a significant increase in revenue.

In life and in business, it’s the little efforts that tend to make a big difference. You’ve just got to be willing to keep at it. Too many people give up or never get started because they think they have to be an overnight success. 

Years ago, my friend Lauren said to me, “It’s a long hard road to become an overnight success.” You may be able to relate to this statement. The things that people admire about you and/or your business, they probably act as if you just turned up one day being good at it. That it came naturally to you. Yet, you’ve likely invested years honing your skills, knowledge, or craft. 

What, if anything, do you need to learn to achieve your goal? Have you been admiring a skill set that someone else has or a business that they’ve built? Are you wondering how you can have that same skill set or business? Then ask yourself, “Have I invested in learning what I need to know as well as the time it will take to get me to my goal? If not, what is it going to take to move you into action?

When you look back a month, a year, or even five years from now will you be satisfied with being in the same spot or will you be so glad you took action now? 

A favorite Chinese proverb of mine is, “The best time to plant a cherry tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is today.”

Wishing you continued success in all you do.

Agree? Disagree? Have additional comments or thoughts on this article? Please share.