It’s counter intuitive to think that too much time can prevent individuals, couples, communities, companies, and even countries from flourishing in their ambition. The more time we have the better, right? Wrong, and I will explain why. The demarcation and significance of January 1st draws excessive attention considering that it is an arbitrary date by nature in most modern settings. Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman describes this phenomenon well in his article: ‘Must a year last 52 weeks?’
I know there are ancient, agrarian, and astronomical reasons why January 1 is the start of our new year, but in a contemporary world, where 24/7 information dominates, what makes January 1 different from say June 19? Well besides a ball dropping at 12am and celebrations taking place around the world, the truth is that it isn’t all that different. In fact, every day would be the same if you treated it as such.
We choose to put so much emphasis on January 1, imagine if you put that kind of excitement into every day of your life? Certainly this is difficult task – we are all human – peaks and valleys bombard our daily lives. Yet all it takes to give 100% effort every day is a change in perspective, a change in time.
Instead of fashioning our goals and targets year to year, smaller, bite sized portions of time will better serve ambitions. Here’s some actionable advice:
100 Day Plans are much more effective than annual ones. 100 Day Plans require focus and commitment. They help you keep on track with what’s most important (not just what’s most urgent) in the center of all your decisions.
Reinforce your aspirations with something tangible, write down your long-term goals, and break them down into smaller ones. Lists and attention to detail will only serve you well when making an effective plan.
Think specifics. Ask yourself what are 5-10 things you can do in the next 100 days to reach that goal. Make a plan and execute. Before you know it, you will be putting check marks next to your goals, giving 100% in every aspect of your life, and you will have accomplished more in a few weeks than you could have over an entire year.
Make your aspirations grandiose, but remain humble as you move forward. Approach your goals in smaller more manageable segments, and I promise your definition of success will grow and mature alongside you.
