Evidence of Action
Success feels different than we expect
We are a month into 2024. How you doing?
I spent the week somewhat crippled from my half marathon. It’s been a good time for reflection.
I’m four months into my “athletic year.” Last fall, I recorded a video series about Building Your Annual Plan.
I told the world what I planned to do.
Went out and did it.
Even when life is on track… there can be moments of doubt.
February can be a melancholy month, especially if you live in higher latitudes.
So let’s explore what “success” feels like up close.
What’s it going to take to achieve your goal?
I’ve found its typically more, and less, at the same time.
More time than that we expect.
Less daily progress.
I’ll use my book to illustrate.
The first step was writing 100 articles. Seems daunting. The real habit was publishing two articles a week, then paying attention.
Break big things into smaller pieces.
Action on a weekly schedule.
By paying attention, I was able to figure out which chapters to write, and in what order.
We don’t get to define what others value.
Be open to alternative paths to achieve the goal.
Then the real work started.
At some point, we need to roll up our sleeves and get busy.
We see the above in most things.
Habit Creation
Pay Attention To Feedback
Focused Work
Getting in shape is the same pattern. I tell novice athletes…
Before you worry about what to do,
Make a habit of doing.
The above is a classic model for positive change…
Get to the meeting for X days
Publish anything for Y days
Get out the door for Z days.
Habit formation is big business.
Overcoming Friction
At each stage, there is friction.
Habit Creation - What if I fail? What if nobody likes my stuff? Overcoming the inertia of the status quo…
Pay Attention - Dealing with the discomfort of constructive feedback. Fear of failure - still with us…
Focused Work - Carving out time to create our best work. This is the payoff from all the “reps” we did during habit creation. Fear of failure - still with us…
For me, the make-it-public aspect provides nudges to continue. For others, working in public can make fear-of-failure overwhelming.
I get that. I’ve had painful public failures (divorce, insolvency, blowing up in a race). Thing is… nobody else cares. It’s easy to fade from public view and the collective memory is short.
Failure is a good cure for fear of failure.
Take Stock
Others call this generating evidence. That seems aggressive. Like someone asking me…
What proof do have of your success?
Well, success doesn’t feel successful.
We not wired to notice small changes, leading to big outcomes.
What we do notice => doubt, missed days, setbacks, mood swings.
…but I understand what they mean.
I’ve found it more helpful to notice consistency of daily action. If we are going to prove something then prove consistency, and…
Pay attention to the small wins.
It might be weeks of publishing, a workout streak, hitting a savings target, a new product launch… sometimes the “win” can be as small as getting out the door.
Make the small wins salient, write them down and notice as they compound.
Generate Evidence of Action
Do The Work
Each time I undertake a big project - physical or mental - I’m reminded that meaningful tasks require:
Energy
Time
Sustained Focus & Attention
Dialing Down Everything Else
As a young man, I’d isolate myself to bring focus to bear.
I don’t have the energy to go all-in anymore.
Shorter periods of focus
Uninterrupted, high-quality work
Consistent application
I’d argue constraints are a good thing - most of us are constrained by our relationships.
Relationships are wealth.
Goals are games, used to amuse ourselves and create engagement.
Whatever your game…
Carve Out Time
Create The Habit
Persist Wisely
I’ll end with a lesson I learned as an elite athlete.
Most of our competition will beat themselves.
1/3 disappear1
1/3 don’t execute
1/3 turn up on game day
So the first step is keeping ourselves out of the 2/3rds that won’t make it.
Set the bar low
Execute
Iterate
Persist
Whatever your game:
Make sure you love it, and
Make time for the people who love you.
This applies everywhere. 1/3rd of the podcasts I’ve appeared on are gone. After two years back in public, 1/3rd of my favorite follows have gone silent. The ability to bring years of focus is rare.