Extraordinary Things Happen in Small Increments

So how do Peak Performers accomplish extraordinary things? The answer is simple. The process is simple. But you have to be dedicated to commit to it. Peak Performers practice self-development techniques or activities EVERYDAY. That’s right. They do it every day. Everyday might seem like a lot. But, if you know how to break things down into manageable tasks it really is easy.

The secret is to practice these things in small increments. As little as 30 minutes a day, every day, can allow you to reap huge rewards. As your goals get bigger, so will the time that you allot every day to achieving them.

I recently read the book No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden by Mark Owen. The story is obvious from the title. But, the author also talked about what it was like to be the elite of the American Military. These elite individuals overcame tremendous obstacles to become part of Seal Team 6.

Once they qualified for their elite unit, the training continued…on and on. The author revealed how he was able to go on mission after mission for over 11 years. In his head, he broke things down into increments. Not just how he would prepare, but how he would survive the day. He told himself that he could make it, if he could only make it “to his next meal.” His coping mechanism for dealing with the stress and horror of war that most people could never even imagine was broken down into increments consisting of meals!

That’s not all. Even the CIA operative who found Osama had worked on the case every day for 5 years. That was the only thing that she did. It was the incremental information and her incremental efforts…everyday…that led to finding him.

Hopefully your life isn't that stressful, but I think you get the point. Inch by inch it’s a cinch. Yard by yard it’s really hard. Did you know that if you dedicated 30 minutes each day for a year to developing yourself and the proposition of gaining new knowledge, those time increments would be the equivalent amount of time spent to complete three college courses? How many college degrees could you get in your lifetime on just 30 minutes a day?!

Here’s another example of incremental improvement. A few years ago I competed in a 12.5 mile swim/race around Key West. When I began my training, I couldn't swim more than 8 laps in a pool without getting out of breath.

How did I do it? I worked for 6 months and I trained just a little bit more every day. Eight laps to 16 laps to more and more and more laps. I got to the point where I wasn't counting laps anymore but the amount of time I could swim non-stop. It started with 3 hours, then 3.5 hours and I added a little bit more time each workout. Eventually, I was able to complete the race in 6 hours, with 6 foot swells in a tropical storm! If I had started my training with the 6 hours non-stop as my starting point I would have failed miserably. I never would have believed it possible and my mind would have kept me from achieving my goal.

I’m not unique. Everyone’s mind operates the same way. It’s is amazing what the body can do but it is even more amazing what the mind can tell the body to do. The incremental approach is a great way to manage your limited daily time resources and also to develop your mental belief systems.

The biggest reason most people don't ever try to do anything extraordinary in their lives is because they see the task as too daunting. Breaking things down into manageable bites is a tool that ALL Peak Performers use to be at the top of their game and you can use this technique as well.

Focus For Success!

Richard B. Greene

Incremental Quotes:
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” - Leo Tolstoy
“Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.” - Dean Acheson
“When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” - Creighton Abrams