Motivation: Small Changes, Big Results
When I was 8 years old, my parents let me go to the toy store with my buddy Mike and his Mom.
My dad gave me a whole dollar to spend.
At the store I found a Frankenstein model that I really really wanted. The problem was the model was 88 cents, I had a dollar and I didn't want to waste the 12 cents difference.
Fortunately for me, Mike's Mom explained that if I took the model to the check-out counter and gave the lady the dollar, she would give me 12 cents back.
I thought this was a pretty cool way to run things so I bought the model.
The model is long gone, but the lesson is not.
Once someone explained the concept of change to me, a new part of the world opened for me.
In my work with helping people to get the changes they want and need in their lives, I find that most clients do not understand the concept of change. Once people see how easy change can be, they get excited, begin to believe they really can change, and a whole new world opens up to them.
One of the most common places people get confused about change is the false notion that in order to change you have to make big, huge, and difficult changes for it to make a difference.
That's just not true. A small change, the right small change, can bring big results.
For example, a plane flying from Atlanta to Hawaii could be off course by only one degree at the start and wind up in Australia.
Applied to our own lives, just one small correction in our course can make all the difference.
I know of a man who was very out of shape who decided to start running. The first day, he made one small change in his day. He ran from the mail box in front of his house to the mail box of the house next door and back. By adding one more mail box to each of his runs, he was able to run a marathon within the year.
Small change, big results.
Let's take an example from one of my coaching clients. This person really wanted to start a savings plan but believed he did not have enough money to begin.
Experience tells me if you look in the right places, you can usually find a little bit of money.
We discovered that he was spending at least $2 a day on a soda and a candy bar on the way to work each morning.
That small amount of pocket change adds up to $10 a week, approximately $43 a month, which is more than $500 a year.
Put that small $2 a day into the right interest bearing places, and you are well on your way to a healthy savings plan, all based on the small change in a pocket.
Small change, big results.
So let's put some hands and feet on this, and apply these notions in your own life.
Choose something you have been wanting to change - just one small thing to do differently. Give up caffeine, walk around the block each night, go to bed an hour earlier, listen to your kids, smile at your spouse, etc. All of these are small changes that can lead to big results.
Here's my challenge:
test this out and see if what I am saying makes practical sense.
For the next week, choose just one small thing to do differently and commit to it.
At the end of the week, check out the results.
I'm willing to bet you'll be surprised and motivated to move on to some more changes. Then you are on your way.
It may even open up a whole new world of
small changes, big results.
Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.
Latest News
Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation Seattle Post Intelligencer - Finding motivation figures to be a challenge for a squad coming off a 16-13 double-overtime loss in its rivalry game. Willingham insisted he won't use his ... |
Irish Win Record 39th Straight at Home New York Times, United States - “We knew coming into this game that there was something to play for and that gave us a little extra motivation,” said McAlarney, who led the Irish with 32 ... |
 stv.tv | OPEC Cuts: A Barrel Of Laughs Forbes, NY - "The major motivation for sellers is the discounting of the OPEC decision," said Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president of MF Global, in a report, "but motivation ... Oil prices dive after OPEC holds output unchanged |
Chiefs provide Raiders true motivation to run Sacramento Bee, USA - "It gives us a little extra motivation to play for because when you have hard times, it's tough to find that extra motivation. We're playing at home against ... |
Where's the love for Alabama? Gainesville Sun, FL - You have to believe it's motivation for the Tide. "I guess you could say that," Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson said. "But it's not something we've ... SEC CHAMPIONSHIP: Florida’s Harvin could miss game Florida Gators' Harvin improves, but enough to face Alabama? Transcript of Nick Saban conference call |
Vikings' view from above: exhilarating Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - ... and I don't think those guys on that team want to be attached with not having a win. So that is a different kind of motivation, but nonetheless motivation." A moment to celebrate? |
 Seattle Post Intelligencer | AU should have plenty of motivation Times-Journal, AL - Then again, the Tigers should take the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with plenty of motivation. - With a win, Auburn will become bowl eligible. ... Iron Bowl is motivation for injured Auburn players Tide has been scouting Florida for awhile Tide, Tigers Have Different Motivations |
 GatorCountry.com | Motivation, Tebow and Percy-cution GatorCountry.com, FL - Percy Harvin turns on the jets and heads to the end zone against South Carolina/Gator Country Photo by Tim Casey. The year was 1968 and the fifth-ranked ... No. 2 Gators hammer rival FSU again, 45-15 Storming to Atlanta: No. 2 UF heads for showdown with No. 1 'Bama ... Tebow: The Ultimate Warrior |
Don't let motivation to conserve fall with fuel prices Bloomington Pantagraph, USA - When gasoline was selling for $4 a gallon there was greater motivation to address those problems, just as there was when the fuel crisis of the 1970s hit ... |
Disease is motivation, not obstacle, for Center Grove senior Indianapolis Star, United States - But I use that as a motivation to work harder and push myself through conditioning." That dedication is inspiring to others around him, Center Grove coach ... |
Resources
-
Affirmations goal setting software - Motivation & personal growth
Affirmation goal setting motivational software, for improved mental/physical health, personal growth.
-
Hypnosis Will Change Your Life
Featuring all hypnosis products by Steve G. Jones, the world
-
Productivity. Improve business productivity through work measurement and method study.
Set of resources to improve worker, workplace and office productivity. Learn to measure productivity, calculate a productivity index and construct a total factor productivity index. Resources include team productivity and employee productivity.
-
The Science of Success
The Science of Success is a simple guide to living a happier, richer, and more successful life.
-
Low Carb Diet Plans: Stop Cheating On Your Low Carb Diet!
Brand New Model Of Human Motivation Helps Dieters Stick To Their Diets!
-
The Motivated Mind - A Complete Guide to Personal Change
Motivation tips and techniques to help you achieve greater happiness and success.
-
Health-E-Meals.com - Quick and Healthy Recipes, Snacks, Fitness Tips, Motivation, Links.
Healthy Solutions for Your Busy Life. Health-E-Meals.com offers a free healthy cooking newsletter as well as other practical resources for making healthy living, eating and exercise a part of your busy life.
-
Super Tactics of Time Management Experts - Dave Saunders, The Time Management Guy
Learn from an expert in Time Management and develop personal techniques, tips and tools to help create the Motivation you need to follow through to your success.
-
Low Carb Motivation recipe ebook
low carb Motivation recipe ebook - lose weight and stay healthy. Low-cabr recipes.
-
Lacking Motivation ? Help Is Waiting For You
Lacking Motivation? Help is waiting