Move the Needle Forward
Sometimes life just seems too big, too fast, too hard, too much. We’ve all faced days, weeks, or months that felt overwhelming and insurmountable, but we do always get to the other side of those moments. The trick to lessening the impact is to be constantly moving the needle forward on your goals and vision for your life. It is choosing the actions that have lasting impact.
No matter what is going on in your life, there are always some things you can control and some things you can’t. A huge part of moving the needle forward is getting very good at knowing which is which. None of us can single-handedly change the economy, fix a health issue, or make someone else change to what would make our lives “easier”, but we can control our responses and actions in any given moment. This is where you move the needle forward.
When you have a clear vision for what you want in your life, it is the single most important thing for deciding how you will respond to any given situation that arises in your life. The choices that move us towards our goal are the choices that move the needle forward. They make significant impact and noticeable change in how we think or act. They are choices directed in a purposeful way.
To be a needle-mover you must understand the bigger picture, think about what will get you there, and commit to action and continuous improvement.
Here are the steps…
1. Know your vision. Make it clear and recognizable. Some people benefit from writing it down or making a vision board, so it is clear and apparent where you are headed.
2. Know the steps that will get you to your vision. Who do you need to be to fit in that vision. Do you need to change habits or work on your character? Do you know what it is going to look like on the way to your vision? Where will you be, what will you be doing, and who will be around you as you move towards that vision?
3. Make sure you have a framework of habits that support you in reaching your goals. In order to move the needle forward you need to be making progress in all areas of your life; mentally, physically, financially, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. Take stock of where you are at and where you would like to see improvement. List concrete steps that can move the needle forward in each of those areas. Start to explore opportunities to develop the skills and changes in your life that you need to reach your goals.
4. Schedule, monitor, and have accountability for the things you want to achieve. As you get more repetitions of any desired skill you become more proficient and eventually it becomes second nature. Make sure you are practicing being the person you want to be in your vision.
5. Watch change happen. As you DO the actions that support your vision, you are moving the needle forward. You will be creating change with a lasting impact. When you have a vision and a plan, you have control. When the world or situations are in chaos around you, know that you can still do the things that will help you in the long run and trust that you will get through the hard times if you just persist and trust in the process. If you are doing the things that make you feel good all throughout, you will find that as the dust settles you are not only doing ok, you are actually closer to your goals and dreams than you ever were before.
