3 Ways to Achieve Lasting Results
Begin with the end in mind
So far along my productivity journey, I’ve realized, that there are 3 core ways to achieve lasting results:
- Create things that last.
- Build skills and habits that compound over time.
- Be consistent with steps 1 and 2.
1. Create Things That Last
Have you ever finished a busy day wondering what you actually got done?
That feeling of being busy all day but struggling to remember what real progress you have made isn’t an enjoyable feeling. I should know. I’ve felt it often enough.
Then again, there are days when I complete large pieces of work. Big reports, long presentations, and detailed pieces of analysis. I’ve had many productive days but when I look back days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years into the past I often find myself thinking ‘what lasting results did I actually achieve’?
Those reports and presentations have long been forgotten about. More often than not the things I produce don’t last. Sure, the files do, but their impact and longevity don’t.
Often this type of work is productive in that they help achieve a bigger goal. A happy client, a long-term strategy, an important step along an important journey but also, there’s a very real danger that digital work today doesn’t have a bigger purpose or a bigger meaning. We need to watch out for this busy work that makes us feel productive but actually when you look closely, it doesn’t move anyone closer to any meaningful goal.
Instead, look to create things that last. Build things, write things, create things, contribute to things. If you can’t find ways to create things that last at work then make sure you find something you can build and create outside of work. Don’t look back years from now wondering what you actually produced. Find a way to look back and say “I helped create that!”
2. Build Skills and Habits That Compound Over Time
Sometimes the opportunities you have available today aren’t the big opportunities that will make the real difference. You may be studying, you might be early in your career, and you might not yet have your business off the ground. That big opportunity might be weeks, months, or even years ahead of you, but there’s always something you can be today. There’s always something you can be doing right now to be prepared, to be building the skills, habits, and stamina for what’s to come.
Use the time you have now before that big career move, before that business, before that writing career. Whatever it is you’re working towards use the time you have now to prepare.
Exercise, lose weight, and build your energy levels. Read, learn, write. Explore, share, laugh. Build habits today that will be effortless to continue when you’re busy focussing on bigger things tomorrow.
Put in the time and effort today to reap the rewards in the future.
Invest now and you’ll be glad you did in weeks, months, and years from now.
3. Be Consistent With Steps 1 and 2
It’s easy to forget to create things that last and it’s easy to forget to focus on building skills and habits. Once you’ve locked in a new habit it’s time to focus on building a new one. Keep honing those skills. Keep looking for new positive habits to develop and keep looking for opportunities to create things that last. A loving relationship, an exercise routine, a new healthy way of eating. Whatever is the next most important skill and habits for you to adopt what’s one small step you can take today to build that habit?
And what’s the next small step you can take the next day?
And the day after that?
And the day after that?
You get the idea…
Begin With the End in Mind
As I began this article with the sub-heading ‘Begin with the end in mind this is the key to creating lasting results.
What are your big goals? What do you really want to achieve? Start by focusing on the ‘end’ results and then start with the end in mind.
You likely won’t be able to achieve your end goals today, tomorrow, this week, this month, or even this year. You might not even be able to achieve them this decade. But if you start now by taking small steps to create things on a daily basis that build towards lasting results and you build positive skills and habits along the way, one day, in the not too distant future you’ll look back in amazement as just how far you’ve come.
