Step by Step: How to Make Progress on Anything in your Life

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” – Frank Zappa

I have always had a passion for endurance sports. There is an exhilarating feeling I get when crossing a finish line, regardless of the time it took, after spending months in training. We sometimes forget the dedication it takes to complete any kind of race, whether long or short. It takes a major commitment - so the adrenaline rush of finishing is well-deserved.

My biggest challenge came when I participated in my first Triathlon. I had already finished a marathon and had confidence in my abilities. I thought to myself: how hard can it be to swim 1 mile? It doesn’t sound too crazy! Then bike and run a few more miles. I got this.

I knew this sport was incredibly demanding - and I was in for a real surprise. I began swimming laps at the local pool. I had calculated that I needed to do 60 lengths to complete a mile - easy for a young guy like me. I trained until I could cover the distance.

When race day arrived, I showed up in my simple bathing suit. Shockingly, all other swimmers were wearing wetsuits. They stared at me. In their minds, it could only be one of two options: I was either incredibly talented and didn’t need any accessories to help me or I had no clue what I was doing. Unfortunately for me, the latter proved to be correct.

The race began and all swimmers took off. Almost immediately I had a micro panic attack: it was my first time in a lake and I couldn’t see anything in the water (this wasn’t crystal-clear ocean water). I finally settled my nerves and managed to pull through. The security team followed me in a kayak the entire time, worried I wouldn’t make it to the end. After 44 minutes - an excessively-long time for a one mile swim - I came out alive!

I learned a valuable lesson that day. Preparation is everything - and progress is a combination of many factors, including preparation.

Intensive Learning 

Taking on new challenges can be daunting. The first step toward successfully navigating new waters (no pun intended) is to become a true expert. Take the time to research the topic thoroughly: comb through books, search Google in and out, reach out to other people who have accomplished the same goal. Become an absolute expert to avoid any surprises.

By learning everything you can about the subject your confidence will grow - fast. The more comfortable and confident you feel about whatever topic you’re learning about, the quicker any mental barriers you have will be dismantled. You will find stories of others who have done what you are attempting to do, and figured out a way. It will make you realize how digestible the challenge actually is for you. Success gets closer once you learn huge amounts and once you see how others have done it before you.

One Step at a Time

Progress is often measured in baby steps. By pushing forward each day, you will increase your capacity without even realizing it. It’s this level of forward momentum that will propel you toward success - in less time than you think.

When I started biking, I could only accomplish a very small distance. With time, and by taking the mileage up every few days, I could eventually cover 100 miles in one ride. I truly believe every single person can increase their abilities if they take one step at a time. Start small, with baby steps - and you’ll barely notice how very far you’ll have come.

True Discipline 

People often tell me discipline is part of our DNA: either we’re born with or without it. I couldn’t disagree more. I believe discipline is a muscle: you can cultivate, develop and grow it with time.

Setting an alarm clock, limiting ourselves, setting boundaries and having a super clear plan is a matter of choice. We control our time, in most cases. We also decide if we will make excuses or push through to achieve our biggest goals. Discipline comes down to choice: you can choose to be disciplined and put in the work if you really want to. If you choose discipline, and if you stick to a plan, you’ll see results come fast.

Trust in Yourself

We spend far too much time questioning our abilities - but we don’t have to look very far at all to see the countless examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We always have more to give than we think. Our potential is truly limitless when we start understanding the power of incremental progress.

Take it one day at a time. Set a clear goal, make a solid plan and dive right into it. You will be surprised how much you can do when you stop listening to that little voice in your head. Instead, write your own story. It is yours, and yours only, after all.

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Shawn Johal, Business Growth Coach & Leadership Speaker