Ep 139: What Happens When You Focus on Your 1%
This week, I received a message that reminded me of the power of the 1% rule. In this email, one of our listeners described her journey back into horsemanship. She is a mom of two, and after years of taking a step back from riding, she was ready to get back into it. She listened to one of our podcasts about the 1% rule, and she told us a story of how she implemented this philosophy into every aspect of her life.
Listening to her story was not only rewarding, but it was also a good reminder about just how influential that 1% can be. As human beings, it's easy for us to get focused on the 99% that seems impossible instead of the 1% that we need to get started.
I believe the secret to success is learning to get started again. No matter what it is – work, school, career, horsemanship – there will be seasons of life where we have to put some areas of our lives on pause. When it comes time to shift our focus back to these areas that we put on pause, it can feel incredibly overwhelming to think about where we are now and where we want to be.
For example, when I am in the peak of clinic season, there are certain areas of my daily routine that get put on pause. As much as I want to believe that I will keep up my normal routine when I’m on the road, the reality is, it doesn’t always happen. When I finally get the opportunity to slow down and get back on track, it can feel overwhelming to think about all the steps I need to take to get back into my normal daily flow. I’ve learned that I can’t think about all the steps at once–I just have to pick one step to start with. Once I take that step, I can take another. And before long, I’m right back where I want to be.
If you feel like the distance between where you are and where you want to be is an impossible feat, just remember to focus on what you can do today. Focus on the first action that you can check off your list. There is power in just getting started. Never underestimate the influence of the 1%.
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