Thoughts on Success — All it Takes is One Extra Degree
A few weeks ago I watched the 212 Extra Degree video on YouTube. The message of the inspirational video — that success comes with just a little bit of extra effort — stuck with me.
I found myself looking for little ways in my day-to-day life to “turn up the heat” a notch — to go from 211 degrees to 212 degrees. Surprisingly, these little things were pretty easy to find.
For example, instead of getting up at 5:00 AM — or 5:15 or 5:30 — I started getting up at 4:30 AM. And instead of putzing around the house and reading emails on my iPhone, I showered, ate breakfast, and went straight to my office. This put me at my desk at 6:00 AM (versus 7:00 or 7:30 AM).
An earlier start gave me more time to think and accomplish the “big” tasks for the day. The earlier start has also made me much more focused, and I’m finding I’m accomplishing a whole lot more.
Too often, I think, we tell ourselves we can’t be successful because ______________________ (fill in the blank). I’ve proven to myself that all it takes is just a little bit of extra effort — that one degree — to make a real difference in how I approach my life and my work.
Try it and see what you think.
(One caveat: A pan of boiling water will run dry so it’s also equally important that you recharge yourself in order to have plenty of energy to sustain your 212 degree focus.)
Dianna – This is so true! Little improvements DO make a huge difference. Easy to forget that in our immediate-gratification and high-expectations world.
Not only that, but I’ve recently started to notice that for these improvements to REALLY add up, it’s important to make them in every area of your life.
For a few years now, I’ve been doing so-so in the “health” area of my life. But I can no longer make diet and exercise a “I’ll get to it later” item. So it’s moved up my list. But I’ve found that even small, gradual, and steady improvements in this department give me the encouragement to make the same type of improvements in other areas. So it’s all working together. Very cool!
Ed,
I have learned the exact same thing — that the little improvements do add up in very big ways and that you have to make them in all areas of your life.
Like you focusing on health, I’ve been focusing on time and am really surprised at how much I’m getting done. Not just work-related things, but personal stuff as well.