Giving yourself ample time to reach a goal significantly boosts your
chances of success.
For goals with a timeline shorter than 1-2 years, you're likely
overestimating your capabilities. Embracing a slower approach to new goals
can enhance your chances of enduring success.
The Lost Virtue of Intentional Slowness
Intentional slowness is no longer celebrated as a virtue. Despite the
well-known tale of the slow yet victorious tortoise over the swift hare,
today's culture often sees slowness as a flaw. A stroll through any
bookstore bombards you with promises of quick weight loss, rapid wealth
accumulation, and instant success.
Imagine setting a goal to shed twenty pounds over a year instead of a
month. Your chances of success would soar. The measures needed for such
weight loss over a month are far more extreme than those over a year.
Moreover, you're more likely to cultivate lasting habits of diet and
exercise, ensuring the weight stays off.
"Start with the most cautious time estimate you can conceive for a
task. Then, multiply that by two. That figure becomes your most
realistic deadline." – A Principle in Software Development.
Nearly any goal is within reach, but perhaps not within your initial
timeframe. Reading 1000 books is a manageable goal over 25 years,
challenging over 5, and nearly impossible over 2. Similarly, becoming a
millionaire is unlikely in 1 year, tough in 10, but almost certain in 40,
assuming you adhere to a plan.
The Underappreciated Value of Patience
Patience is the foundation of intentional slowness. With enough time,
almost any goal is attainable. Yet, the longer the timeframe, the more
patience you must exercise to maintain consistent behavior. If you aim to
invest $100 monthly but quit before a year's end, you'll see no
significant return.
Patience shifts your focus from the end goal to the journey. Marathon
runners who sprint from the start are fixated on the finish line, not the
steps they take. Recognizing the need for a steady pace turns your
attention to each step, and you might even find joy in the journey
itself.
Slowness Can Lead to Quicker Success
In a twist that Lao Tzu would appreciate, slowness can lead to quicker
success than haste. By allowing more time than you think necessary, you
prevent regression. It's akin to treading carefully on ice to avoid
slipping.
When launching this website, set a three-year goal for a minimum income.
It's surprising how some abandon projects after just six months. Even with
improved skills, I'd anticipate any online business to require years to
stabilize financially.
"People often overestimate their one-year achievements but
underestimate what they can achieve in five years." – Steve
Pavlina
For fitness goals, intentionally slow down progress. Rather than aiming
for a 10-pound muscle gain in a month, set a 3-6 month target. This slower
pace ensures proper execution and lasting dietary and health
changes.
Solid Foundations in Personal Development
Self-improvement is challenging, often more so than people realize.
Permanent change requires effort, time, and mistakes. In the short term,
even minor changes seem miraculous.
The beauty of personal development lies in compounding returns.
Improvements in one area facilitate advancements in others. Better health
leads to more energy, which can translate into harder work and more
resources for further education. This creates a long-term upward spiral
where small changes yield significant impacts.
A common error is conflating short-term and long-term perspectives.
Assuming self-improvement works the same over six months as it does over
six years leads to two mistakes: overestimating
short-term capabilities and underestimating the long-term power of
intentional slowness.
Hence, while a 30% income increase in a month might be overly optimistic,
tripling income over six years seems entirely feasible.
Without intentional slowness, you risk regressing to square one. A
temporary 50% income boost is less valuable than a solid 5% increase that
serves as a foundation for future growth. The former is fragile under
pressure, while the latter is a step firmly planted.
GROW YOUR GRIT!
