Nonprofit Execs are busy people! It’s inevitable that from time to time, the many pulls on our attention will lead us away from the kind of high level effectiveness we aspire to.
Several years ago I developed the beginnings of a tool that nonprofit leaders can use to make their careers more rewarding and their organizations more impactful. Since then, pages and pages of rough notes on this tool have been dormant on my hard drive, gathering virtual dust as a good idea remained in the dark. I confess to feeling a little ashamed about this. I know better. Every success in my career — and life — was accomplished through small, disciplined steps. Every failure was “accomplished” by having big ideas but never connecting them to granular day to day actions.
When I was recently asked to give a short presentation about research related to this tool I had been developing, it was a wake-up call. Preparing for the presentation gave me the opportunity to dust off my earlier work and get my head back in the game. This review made me believe in the power of this project more than ever. And… having just listened to James Clear’s Atomic Habits on Audible, I’m particularly attuned to the outsized power of tiny adjustments to our lifestyle habits. I used the opportunity to commit BOTH to the big project that lies ahead AND to the little daily disciplines it will take to bring that product forth where we all will have the opportunity to benefit from it.
If you’re feeling in a bit of a rut, it’s a good idea to take a step back. Remember what matters most to you, and set a goal or two to make sure you’re moving in the right direction. But don’t stop there. In addition to your audacious goals, be sure to tend to the structure of your day to day life. The vast majority of you reading this are already deeply committed to a big vision. Reconsider whether your daily routine is supporting your success or getting in your way. Take some time to assess whether your day to day life is made up of an intentional rhythm or whether complacency or auto-pilot has crept in.
Atomic Habits reminded me of something you and I both already know — that small changes to our habits can result in extraordinary outcomes. It also provided some basic tools to help us get there. I’ve been experimenting with the strategies in the book for just a short time, and I already feel like I’m getting back on a track I feel proud of.
If it might be time for you to commit to that one percent improvement in your eating, sleep, exercise or spiritual habits; or perhaps a work or family habit, you might want to give Atomic Habits a read or listen. Contrary to popular opinion, sweat the small stuff — it’s where the actual change we seek becomes reality.