If you only focus on a distant, enormous goal, then you will devalue your small everyday achievements and make them seem worthless. ― Ian Robertson: The Winner Effect
Image by Sarah Richter from Pixabay
Hey reader! Thanks for visiting my blog. I’m returning after a year-long break from Hive. I had a challenging year, and in the middle of it lost the motivation to keep up with my blog. On the bright side, I persevered through some challenges and had a few important breakthroughs. Additionally, the challenges gave me fuel for writing. The downside is my Hive reputation took a hit, and I’ve lost some subscribers.
I am confident though that as long as I follow my own advice, I'll get back to where I was and go even further.
I’m reading a fascinating book called “The Winner Effect” by Ian Robertson. The Winner Effect is a study on the psychological effects of winning. The term is used in biology to describe how an animal that has won a few fights is more likely to continue winning against stronger competitors. The topic is relevant to Hive because you don’t just want to write blogs, you want to achieve something. You want to be a winner on this platform and in life.
I’m less than halfway through but there are so many fascinating insights that I decided to share them.
The quote at the top of the post is about a former student of the author. The student in question was extremely bright and always reached the top of his chosen field. However, regardless of his talent he was depressed and never satisfied with his accomplishments. He had a pattern of climbing to the top of his field only to quit and start a new one.
The author hypothesized that this had to do with something he overheard the student say to a girl. He told the girl that he wanted to make an enormous impact in science. He aspired to be another Darwin or Einstein. He wanted his impact to be so big that he would be remembered forever. This enormous goal turned into an unbearable burden.
Even though the student was talented enough to be remembered for his accomplishments, the enormous goal distracted him from his daily successes. His small achievements seemed insignificant compared to the “big one” in his dreams. This created a negative feedback loop that resulted in depression and self-sabotage.
Devaluing Small Achievements:
When our attention is solely directed towards a distant, enormous goal, there's a risk of diminishing the value of our daily accomplishments. These small wins, often overlooked, are the building blocks of success. Whether it's completing a task at work, maintaining a healthy habit, or fostering meaningful connections, these incremental achievements contribute significantly to personal growth.
“Because we know when we add up all those inches, that's gonna make the fucking difference between winning and losing! Between living and dying! I'll tell you this, in any fight it's the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I'm gonna have any life anymore it's because I'm still willing to fight and die for that inch.”
— Tony D'Amato, Any Given Sunday.
The Power of Micro-Goals:
If you’re burdened by an enormous goal and lose sight of your daily achievements, there is a way to break the cycle. Focus on micro-goals. The American football coach, Vince Lombardi, was a master of winning. He said winning isn’t a one-time thing, it’s an all-time thing. I believe he was talking about achieving micro-goals. If you have an enormous goal, you must break it up the goal into achievable milestones. Even though the small goals seem insignificant to that singular glorious achievement, they’re not. Every small achievement is a step up on the ladder to success.
Celebrating Progress:
To avoid the pitfall of devaluing small achievements, celebrate progress along the way. Turn the negative feedback loop of disappointment, depression, and failure into a positive one by acknowledging and appreciating the efforts invested in daily tasks. Reinforce the belief that each step, no matter how small, contributes to the overall journey. This results in something called a growth mindset.
A growth mindset involves viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Individuals with a growth mindset value effort more than results. If they fail, they don’t say to themselves “I’m a failure.” They say something like “This was an opportunity to learn and get better.” They’re confident that success is a simple process of continuous effort and improvement.
Striking a Balance:
The key lies in striking a balance between pursuing ambitious long-term goals and acknowledging the importance of daily victories. It's not about diminishing the significance of grand achievements but rather about appreciating the journey. This is achieved when you understand that wars are won through an accumulation of small victories.
Conclusion:
In the pursuit of victory, it's crucial to maintain a perspective that values both the grand and the mundane. Ian Robertson's insight serves as a reminder that an exclusive focus on enormous goals may lead to the devaluation of everyday achievements. This can be catastrophic by turning into depression and self-sabotage. By striking a balance and celebrating progress, individuals can navigate the landscape of success with a more fulfilling approach.
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