When we think about our whole long life, a single day feels like an insignificant drop in the bucket. But as I've gotten older, I see it is the string of days compounded together -- the drip, drip, drip -- that makes every 24-hour cycle critically important.
Author and speaker, John Maxwell claims he could pop into anyone's home on any random day and after observing them for 24 hours, draw an accurate conclusion about where their life is headed and how successful they will be. How could this minuscule snapshot point to the bigger picture of our life? It does simply because our future success -- in any area of life -- comes down the habits evidenced today.
Darren Hardy proves the case for daily disciplines in The Compound Effect. If you ever wonder if you are on track to get where you want, read this book to be confronted with the reality that your daily schedule is your ticket to your future. "A daily routine built on good habits is the difference that separates the most successful amongst us from everyone else," Hardy says.
Think about the role of consistent action over time in these areas of life.
- Physical Health. I am not naturally athletic or prone to exercise. Six years ago, I was in a serious bicycle accident I could have avoided had I been stronger. Ever since, I work out in the morning for at least 30 minutes. That half hour over six years has given me considerable gains over many of my much more athletic peers who have not stayed consistent with a sport. Still, nearly every morning I don't want to get up and push myself physically, but my belief in the compound effect propels me to just do it.
With anything, it's hard to know where to start and the idea of a daily discipline might have us turning over couch cushions looking desperately for more hours in the day. But really, small tweaks over time build to big results. This is actually very exciting to me as I consider my mid-50 age and the vast number of exciting things I can yet accomplish in my remaining 30-something years if I begin small tweaks today.
I challenge you to think of two or three things you could do, starting today, and keep up consistently. Habits, once formed, are sticky; once these become a "force of habit" you can add even more, bringing your life to an exponentially more successful place over time.
How has the compound effect rung true in your life?