Some years ago, Admiral McRaven emphasized the importance of making your bed in the morning. While that may seem like an unusual focus for a speech, he explained that if you do nothing else all day, you will still have been productive. This idea suggests that we can build towards productive and great outcomes by starting with small actions.
Similarly, I recently heard a presentation on losing weight and dieting which offered the following advice: consider what is the best thing you could give your body right now. The idea is to make decisions about eating, drinking and exercising based on what is best for us in that moment.
Both of these insights drive home the notion that each moment provides us with the opportunity to make and sustain long term changes. In fact, each moment’s decision to do something positive can drive long-term excellence. Each moment becomes part of the foundation we are laying for either great outcomes or for mediocre results. The question is whether we will choose what is best or passively accept second best.
Moments count just as pennies add up to dollars and dollars to hundreds. It doesn’t happen all at once, and for many, this suggests the moments are unimportant. However, what we do today will definitely have implications for tomorrow’s potential. If we apply ourselves now to what we are doing, it will offer greater opportunities ahead.
As leaders, this principle is crucial for leading well and creating momentum. There are no easy paths to success, or shortcuts that allow us to rely on luck. Instead, we create opportunities when we are disciplined in our use of time and willing to apply our energy to challenging tasks.
What is the best thing you could do right now for your organization and team? Choose each moment to give your best, invest in gaining expertise, and prioritize activities that will lead to success. Tune in to our most recent podcast for an illustration of a leader who is taking time to listen to the right constituents and creating a structure that has produced great results!
