In a now famous YouTube clip Admiral McRaven addressed The University of Texas at Austin graduating class of 2014. While the Special Forces Commander shares moments from his career in the military, the main emphasis of his address is not about his maneuvers as a Seal Team leader. Instead, he described the benefit of starting each day by… making his bed. Admiral McRaven explained:
If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.
Who would have guessed a university commencement speech would focus on something so, well, elementary. But the message rings true. Progress on small goals builds momentum. With that momentum, you can do one more task. And then another.
This video connected with me because knocking out goals is my “drug”.
While I never viewed my approach to each day through the lens of making my bed (and maybe my Mom would argue I haven’t always been so diligent about my morning chores), adding checks to my checklist has been my addition ever since at least my teen years. I love doing just one…more…thing. While I haven’t always been so task-oriented, by the time I grew into a young adult I adopted a practice of making and doing lists of projects daily. Ever since I discovered the secret joy of completing small and big tasks daily I haven’t put the practice down.
This is what I learned through the process.
Document Your Goals
Whether you list them in a phone, on post-its, or a journal, write down where aiming. And then DO IT!
Whether these are small tasks done around the house, or big multi-month projects, write down what you want to achieve with as much detail as possible. I used to write objectives on yellow post-it notes and paste them above my desk. Now I mostly use my phone’s notes app. Examples of goals from my past to-do lists include:
SMALL: Build a live-edge wood table
MEDIUM: Professionalize my filmmaking by making movies only with licensed music and professional titles and animations
BIG: Find and buy a house I can afford and improve it with my Dad
The benefit of writing down your goals not only allows you to get clarity on what you want to achieve, and maybe allow you to reorder your list based on your resources and time, it also holds you accountable. And this is the secret sauce. Like many business books and career coaching texts describe, when setting goals they should be S.M.A.R.T.—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (whenever possible). Plus, if you don’t write your goals down you don’t get the joy of crossing them off once you’ve finished the task, or climbed the hill.
Start Small
This take-away mirrors the advice shared by Admiral McRaven. Start your day with a simple task and work to complete it. This could include participating in a morning strength and conditioning routine, packing your lunch for your workday or calling your family to check in on your morning commute. By completing a small task, you can build momentum in your day and week and maybe month to do another task, and then another.
While I initially hated the intensity of hot yoga, I took on the weekly sweaty, stretchy practice for a full year because I realized that when I was done the class at 7:05AM, I was both massively energized for my day and had already ticked off my “workout” to-do—and yet the morning had just started. Nailed it! This elation combined with energy from my morning coffee meant that after a quick shower I was ready to throw myself at subsequent tasks on my to-do list. Procrastination is impossible when anyone reaches this motivated state and the flywheel of “doing” is in motion. (Plus, caffeine and pop music helps.)
Celebrate Wins
I try to make it a point to give credit where credit is due. That means not only thanking those who help me knock out tasks small and large, but also celebrating my own efforts. By taking a moment to mentally say “good job bother!”, I’m reminded of what got me across the finish line. My motivation, planning and grit. This celebration can come in many forms.
While the 100-mile distance is not always my favorite trail running challenge, I do like how these events celebrate a finish by gifting a belt buckle. These much-prized tokens can then be worn post-run—reminding yourself of how grit got you to the finish. This award is made of steel, copper or aluminum and has no mystical powers, but it does remind wearers of how they set and accomplished a goal. That in itself is powerful… and maybe magical. I love wearing my buckles, even if I wasn’t always chipper and 100% happy when I earned each of them.
If you’re not into shiny jewelry, I know friends who celebrate with ice cream dessert, a weekend vacation or beers with friends. However you reveal, use that prize as a motivator to get your project, classwork, or whatever you’re plugging away at done.
So this is a natural time to reflect and use my own advice. What are MY goals for the New Year?
I’m focused on investing in my education by reading 15 books and attending two conferences, in my health by taking up weekly indoor cycling classes, and by running ten ultramarathon including at least one 100K and one 100-mile race. Financially I’ve implemented a food budget that cuts back on eating out and ensures I’m keeping my finances in line. I also plan to pay down a sizable chunk of my student loans, and to expand my emergency fund. Creatively I plan to produce at least four short movies including one about my dog Luna titled Why He Runs, and one about Dick Kresser’s Tour du Volcanoes expedition (more to come there). I’d also like to travel to two international destinations this year (Costa Rica and Mexico), plus a few spots in the States.
However, the year unfolds, I hope I’ll have a long list to cross off one line at time.