Sometimes you get stuck. To get started again, you don’t have to slay a dragon. You just have to reset the default.
Resetting The Default
If you find yourself stuck, stop thinking you need to do everything. You just need to do something. Anything.
It doesn’t have to be superhuman. *It just has to be done.*
Instead making herculean efforts, trade out glamour for consistency, and retrain some of your habits.
The focus here is on changing your default.
So, instead of just walking through life like a zombie, you set a standard that you have to hit – every single day, no matter what. And it’s the absolute minimum that you can do.
Instead of just showing up, you’re doing xyz.
- Instead of not working out at all, at the very least you’re doing 100 pushups.
- Instead of writing when you feel like it, you have to write at least 750 words every day.
- Instead of getting nowhere with your business, you’re at least making 25 cold calls.
- Instead of not progressing with the things you want to, at the very least, you’re knocking one thing off your impossible list every month.
Every day. Day after day. Repeat. Consistently focus on consistency.
Cold shower therapy is the same thing in a stupid-simple basic form. If you’re paralyzed, doing something as simple as purposely making yourself uncomfortable and cold in the shower can be your bare minimum.
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If you’re not sure you can hit your goal, blackmail yourself. I just did this. I hadn’t worked out in a few days, and my routine was all of out whack. I made a bet with Vic that I’d work out every day of the week, or he’d get $1,000.
It’s as simple as that. I worked out every day of the week, and now it’s a habit. This is a rock-solid way to force yourself into developing a good habit.
The keys to resetting your default are:
- Set a new default.
- Stick to it.
2a. If it involves you doing something uncomfortable, take cold showers too.
2b. If you’re not sure about being able to complete it, bet a ridiculous amount of money on you doing it (you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to change things when there’s money on the line).
What’s your new default?
Do one thing every day that scares you.
That’s a great quote that people love to pass around. When was the last time you actually did that though? What if that was your default, and you actually stuck to it?
Thanks Joel
You really don’t know how timely this is for me. Yes I’ve heard it before but it just helps to be reminded of things we need to know and sometimes forget.
Thanks, big big thanks.
Joel I completely agree. I used to work out all the time when I used to play basketball and then when I stopped playing, so did my work outs. Now I tell myself I have to do a minimum of one Tabata set a day. This could be anything from push ups to skipping to kettle Bell swings. I usually find that once I’ve done the first set I do more.
I like surprises like this. Wonderful to just challenge yourself. And surprises do show up along the way….like, I just happened to buy a Men’s Health magazine off the shelf. I don’t usually buy any magazines. And a wonderful interview article of Tom Brady was there. I was so intrigued by all the things I read. My son told me he had never liked Tom as he seemed so proud, vain, and a braggart. If this article is true, (I have no reason not to believe it), Tom is the exact opposite of what my son viewed the footballer. One takeaway, really two: Tom was hungry and he was humble. In other words, he had a passion for football that burned his soul to the extent he studied more and worked more than many. And, he was coachable. His body manager held him to the line and Tom loved his teaching him many things about his body. Read “The Mind Behind the Arm.” It is a great read in September, 2013 issue of Men’s Health.
I think you’re the only one who would actually take my money if I did the blackmail thingie and didn’t meet my goal. Then I’d cry. And look for a bridge to live under.
Great post Joel – can’t agree more! Consistency and discipline are the key ingredients to make the life matter again.
I also liked the part of doing things that scare you, on a daily basis. Don’t remember who said that, but it was something like “go in the direction where your fear grows.” Opportunity and fear go hand in hand, and if you can’t always see the challenge worth taking, look at what you’re afraid the most – now you have it!
This was great Joel! Simple and seemingly obvious, but it really hit the spot for me today. I’m all about setting goals and holding myself to them – this is a bit different and encouraged me to get some minimum systems in place to be more effective. Thanks!
Right to the point of what it takes to get things accomplished: consistency. I sometimes get stuck in the rut thinking that I have to do this big, grandiose thing to make progress on my goals, when the reality is that tiny steps every day are what lead to making things happen. It’s when those things compound and add up that the big results come.
Thanks so much Joel for the post and the reminder to stay consistent!
Thanks man. Good stuff.
I’ve read your ‘cold shower’ article but have found it extremely difficult to pursue.
Ha, but here in Guatemala where I’ve been for the past 4 weeks, I’ve had plenty of practice with cold showers…
Awesome post Joel. I love the idea of doing something small every single day – whether it be in business, health, or in life – to make you a little bit better than you were yesterday. I’ve read studies that claim that even doing the smallest thing towards a goal (i.e. writing out your outline for a book you want to write) will make you far more likely to actually finish it. Good stuff!