Good Habit or Bad Habit – You Decide…
Here's a fantastic quote I came across yesterday whilst I was going through Rob Scott's 28 day goal challenge program. I've decided to dedicate a whole blog post to it because it's SO TRUE.
When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don't look for the big, quick improvement. Seek small improvements one day at a time. That's the only way it happens – and when it happens, it lasts." – John Wooden
Many times in my life, I've tried to make big changes all in one go and failed. New years resolutions are one of them. We all make them, and usually never stick with them past the 2nd week of January, but why is that?
New habits take approximately 28 days of consistent effort and working on them little bits each day (ideally at the same time of the day) until they become new behaviours within us and we do them automatically.
When we make new years resolutions, we try to change the behaviour usually in one go. Someone trying to lose weight might try to stop eating chocolate and sweets in one fell swoop which creates a huge vaccum within that person. If they'd cut down gradually and started to replace their chocolate with eating vegetables/ carrot's etc, it would be much easier to handle.
Within a week, the person is back doing the bad habit again because they tried to change too fast rather than little bits over time.
My Experiences
Over the last 3-4 years I've started to understand this within myself and rather than trying to do things all in one go, I break it down into small things each day that really add up.
I've started to master time management, productivity, and influence and persuasion because I'm learning a litte bit each day and putting it into action. In the past when I tried to learn time management in a few days, I failed miserably because it needs to gradually become part of our lives.
Think about being a school, college, or university. The learning takes place over many years until the child/ adult masters the skill. How long did it take you to learn to read and write? I'm sure it was a slow and gradual process.
So, my question to you is… is there something that you'd like to learn, do, be, have? If so, then aim to master it over a few years rather than quickly. It's exactly the same with Network Marketing. Over time, you get better but most people think they will become millionaires within a few weeks and then quit when they don't succeed.
If it's something that's worth mastering, it will take time and it will be worth it in the end!
My good friend Vitaliy Dubinin wrote a great post, about a similar topic. Check it out here:
http://vitaliy-dubinin.com/business-success
Much of what we both talk about, can be found in the book The Slight Edge, which I'd definitely recommend reading!
Let me know your thoughts and experiences on this and if you found it useful, please click on the Re-Tweet and Facebook share button's to share it with your friends and followers.
| To Get FREE leads from Facebook Automatically & join the 1528 other members, who LOVE The Networking Superstar 11 day bootcamp, submit your details below...
|
|
Leave a Comment
Filed under mindset by 
Comments on Good Habit or Bad Habit – You Decide…
This is Excellent Gavin!
It is so true.
We always want it to happen overnight.
I have learned in my journey of life, business and personal if you are patient you will reach your goals and be rewarded!
Maggie
[Reply]
Hi Gavin,
Great post but why does it always seem that bad habbits are fast to get into? Maybe a topic for a future post.
Thanks for sharing
David
[Reply]
Hey Gavin, …that's certainly GREAT advice worth remembering!
Thanks for reminding me. While I do give it time, I certainly am impatient for the changes to take effect. This lack of patience is something that has always affected my sense of accomplishment.
I simply had to learn to make plans, execute, monitor, adjust… and be patient for the results. After all, apparently it even took God 6 days to create something as wonderful as this little dust bowl that we inhabit!
Chris
[Reply]
Gavin:
Thank-you for getting our attention on a subject that has been so little understood…chunking it down makes it so believable and doable. It gives it a life force that carries through like the energizer bunny!
Great post!
Linda.
[Reply]
Hi Gavin,
Yes indeed, The Slight Edge is one of my all-time favorite books. A quote I constantly say from that book is this one: "It's easy to do; it's easy not to do."
Anyone can be nice OR not; anyone can get fit OR not; anyone can become wealthy OR not…the choice is always ours to make! It's easy to do; it's easy not to do.
Network Marketing is indeed something that has been sold to a lot of people as an easy way to become rich. I am grateful to the growing online community of leaders like yourself who are writing candidly about this profession, and being transparent about how long it takes to build a solid and profitable organization. Like anything of value in life, building a business takes time, patience, and making mistakes along the way.
John Wooden is a legend in this country, first as a basketball coach, but perhaps even more for his incredible philosophical insights.
Terrific post! Thanks.
Mary Lou
[Reply]
Loved your post Gavin. My husband is a basketball coach so he shares many of John Wooden's quotes with me. Funny how sports can impact us all and make us think about our good and bad habits!
[Reply]
Gavin,
I agree. The famous Mike Dillard gives this advice, "make a task list of 5 things and don't quit your day until those are complete".
My favorite analogy is a car manufacturer. Building a car is a series of small steps that culminate in a finished product. What kind of car do you want to build? This is the real question.
Mark
[Reply]
@Maggie Lancy, yes it's all about experiencing it as a journey isn't it? Enjoying it as we go. I used to struggle with it and sometimes still do.
@David C – I agree, bad habits are easier to get into. Bad habits usually involved a lack of discipline and I'm sure that most of us have that
@Chris – sometimes it can be a challenge to be patient because we do all want it now, but if we can enjoy the journey and the person we become during the process, it makes life much more enjoyable.
@Linda – Thanks for stopping by! Much appreciated
[Reply]
@Mary Lou, I hadn't heard of John until this quote so it's great to hear so many people know him well! If it's easy to do, or easy to not do, most people won't do it… and they don't notice the negative impact it has on their lives because it happens so slowly
@Michelle – Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
@Mark – Sounds like great advice to me. 5 things each day otherwise we can get caught up in the busy work… which is very easy to do!
[Reply]
This is a word of wisdom to the impatient! It's unfortunate that many of us have to learn the hard way.
These ideas hold as we learn new things in every area of our lives.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Al
Sandy & Al's last post: http://bestsupplementsforwomen.com/a-psychic-communication-from-your-unborn-baby
[Reply]
@Sandy, thank's for stopping by! yes, I most definitely used to be impatient, and sometimes I still am
This will help people who really think about what gradual process means.
[Reply]
Hi Gavin,
I am finding this to be such a gem of truth. Have you read the Slight Edge? The book is about this very same thing. Same steps daily are very powerful. Thanks for sharing.
[Reply]
@Debbie – Yes, I have read the slight edge although it was a while ago. I will be reading it again fairly soon because it was so good!
Thanks for stopping by
[Reply]
The slight edge is a powerful little book! Such a simple concept that .. as they say is the eight wonder of the world. Compounded action over time is what it takes to get long term results! Thanks for leading the way with tons of value Gavin!
Kimberly
[Reply]
I love the Slight Edge, and I've heard Jeff Olson (the author) speak a few times. He is always very enlightening.
Thanks for reminding me of the "Slight Edge."
Alan
[Reply]
Hi Gavin
Question How do you eat a Elephant ? Answer: Bit by bit and that is how
you learn new things, I love you post and agree 100%
Theuns
[Reply]
I agree! It is slowly conditioning yourself to achieve what you want out of life. One big burst of motivation will not do it.
[Reply]
Gavin,
Great post!
I like how you make reference to "Marketers" and how it takes years to master certain skills. Too many think it is a lottery mentality and think if they join a company then they will get rich without the time and effort needed to learn how to do it properly.
As an Educator… It took me 2 degrees and 6 years before I ever made a penny as a Teacher so why… why to people think that they would ever make millions simply by getting involved in Marketing when most know nothing!
Most people over estimate what they can do in a year but underestimate what they can do in 10….
Thanks for sharing….
Cheers
Steve
[Reply]