On Apollo 13, the crew staged the first strike in the history of space travel. The date was December 27, 1973. Mission Control had sent more commands than the crew could cope with. Commander General Carr put a stop to this when he radioed in to Mission Control. "You have given us too much to do," he complained. "We're not going to do a thing until you get your act in better order."
He then shut off communications for 12 hours. The astronauts used the time to catch up and enjoy the unusual view.
The Success Principle
Success happens in small steps. Scale down big projects. Go for small victories. Over time, small victories add up to complete the overall goal.
The Principle At Work
In the story, the space crew scaled everything down to regain control of their mission. They reduced an overwhelming situation to a manageable one. Here you have an example of scaling down the element of time. While the projects remained the same size, they were extended over time. They became more manageable, easier to get done.
The key word here is manageable.
Scaling down can also be done in terms of size. A project can be broken down into smaller units, into sub-projects. When the parts of a whole are disconnected, each part can be worked on. A system with fewer interconnected parts is easier to comprehend, easier to control, manipulate, improve. Science, itself, is based on boiling down the vast complexity of nature into small, comprehensible units of information called scientific laws. Gradually, the completed parts are assembled into a whole again.
In your own life, when things get overwhelming, scale them down. Either do less of them, diminish the size; or do them all over a longer period of time. Scaling down means working at a level of competence. It means doing only a few things, and one thing at a time.
Ultimately, scaling down means shunning big wins for smaller wins. Going for big wins creates high stress, confusion, loss of momentum and balance.
When a large problem is broken down into smaller chunks, stress is reduced in three ways. First, a small win cuts the pressure. "This is no big deal." The price of failure is low. The pain of failure is minimal. Consequently, you are willing to try again and again, until you figure out the pattern which ensures success. Second, it cuts demand. There is less to do. And it is less strenuous. "This is all that needs to be done." Third, the level of skill needed is sufficient. Performance anxiety is reduced. A sense of competency exists. "I can do at least this much."
What is a small victory?
A small victory is a concrete, complete, clear-cut outcome of modest value. By itself, one small victory may seem trivial. But a series of victories at small but significant tasks, lowers resistance to opposition. Small victories are controllable opportunities. They produce visible results. Small solutions single out and define problems clearly. By looking at specific, limited conditions of a problem, it is easier to find a solution that fits. The problem is easier to see and the solution easier to try out.
Small victories emphasize the importance of defining limits. They avoid defining problems diffusely. "The establishment stinks." They avoid open-ended solutions. "Burn the system down." They define problems more precisely. "This is what is wrong." They narrow solutions. "This is the first thing we have to work on."
Once a small victory has been secured, energy is released and powerful forces are set in motion that favor another small victory. When a problem is solved, the next solvable problem appears. This happens because information is clear. When our perceptions are sharper, more resources, both inner and outer, can be tapped.
Small victories change a situation. They stir up change. Even when complexity does occur in the future, you will have the skills to meet them. In time, more complex tasks are handled with more mastery.
Small victories provide information. This information speeds up learning and adaptation. Small attempts are miniature experiments. They test theories. They offer insight into viable strategies. In little experiments, numerous theories can be postulated, numerous strategies tried out, until something clicks, a pattern is discerned, a meaningful solution appreciated.
Small victories are also more emotionally stable. A small defeat does not result in despondency, a small victory in exuberance. Everything is relatively even-tempered. A large, sudden victory can be overwhelming. Lottery millionaires, for example, have been known to lose all their money rapidly. This is different from the businessman who understands how to manage his money, even when it runs in millions, because he has built his business over a series of small victories.
Essentially, then, the best big victories are those that have arrived over a period of time as a series of small victories. These victories have stability, balance, and perpetuating power. They have matured over time because they have been built up over a process of events. Big corporations, for example, sometimes break themselves down into smaller departments to stimulate the creativity and dynamism of a small group. Above all, when you initiate a small-scale project, or break a large project into small-scale projects, there is less that can go wrong. There is a closer link between cause and effect. Simple patterns can be created, observed, tested, discarded, tried out, and finally trusted. Immediate feedback is available as to what works and how long it takes. Clarity of vision, manageability of tasks, immediacy of results ? all these arise from pursuing small victories.
Resource Box
Saleem Rana got his Masters degree in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life
Copyright 2004 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.
I have been with this marketing business for a few... Read More
A realistic goal setting workshop:Have you ever gone to a... Read More
Own goals are actions, things we do, that stop us... Read More
In order to achieve something, the first thing you should... Read More
What is it that you need to do in order... Read More
Someone has said that the greatest cause of ulcers is... Read More
"Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning... Read More
To reach goals, consider this illustration: If you see roadblocks... Read More
1. Write down one goal that you want to achieve.... Read More
What would you like to achieve in your lifetime?Author Basil... Read More
What is this mysterious creature, this intangible element, this phantom... Read More
I am sitting in a shopping mall, waiting for my... Read More
"One stroke at a time." In an interview, Tiger Woods... Read More
Goals. Most people have a love-hate relationship with goals. They... Read More
1. Schedule a specific time and day to work on... Read More
We Need DreamsDreams are important. Not the dreams you have... Read More
Most people measure us by our accomplishments -- what we've... Read More
Don't let go of your dreams. If you have determination... Read More
Too often, people say one thing and do another. I... Read More
Scenario: You have taken care of the house, the kids,... Read More
Everything is in flow here in Northern Michigan. Buckets of... Read More
Photographs are clearer when they are in focus. When they... Read More
"What we need most, is not so much to realize... Read More
Weve all read about personal goal setting. Weve all tried... Read More
Have you ever heard the old saying If you want... Read More
One of the things that frustrated me while in school... Read More
Lately I have been studying mindset and goals, and wanted... Read More
It happens a lot 'round about now. One by one... Read More
IF I WON THE LOTTERY, IWOULDN'T NEED TO JOB SEARCH!Let's... Read More
"A successful attempt at scoring"Let's break that definition of Goals... Read More
As you begin your new home business you will find... Read More
Many professionals have a basic idea of what they want... Read More
Think for a moment about your Self. Is there something... Read More
We've just gone from "the Holiday Season" to the "Goal... Read More
Why is goal setting important? Because without goals you don't... Read More
If you are anything like me, the end of the... Read More
"A man can be as great as he wants to... Read More
Years back when I was formulating my plans for life,... Read More
Do you have trouble taking a day off? Boy, I... Read More
1. Retrain your self-talk, to remove selfish from your vocabulary... Read More
Ever notice when you start a new hobby or fall... Read More
1. Write down one goal that you want to achieve.... Read More
Recently, I spoke with a client who wanted me to... Read More
Years ago, people came to America in pursuit of their... Read More
Six keys to keys to build vision - point three3.... Read More
Brian Tracy, the great motivational guru, often suggests that people... Read More
If you've been diligent in doing the past 2 concentration... Read More
If you have always been procrastinating on how to get... Read More
Goal setting is the true secret to success in any... Read More
Last month's edition of Footprints and Monuments was about living... Read More
6.Recognise that all vision has seasonal components within it· Vision... Read More
One of the primary reasons why people fail to execute... Read More
Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to... Read More
Several articles and newsletters with the message that New Year's... Read More
I wonder if anyone really reads long stuff from Ezines... Read More
Where Does Money Fit In the Goal Setting Process?Some view... Read More
The alarm goes off at 6am, you roll out of... Read More
One day you will inevitably die. A morbid statement, I... Read More
Can goals be easily reached? This question is in most... Read More
The fear of speaking in public ranks right up there... Read More
The title of this article sounds simplistic but it is... Read More
What do you want to achieve?Before you actually set up,... Read More
Creating your path to success depends on walking on a... Read More
Many motivational speakers and self-help books will tell you that... Read More
(Channelled) (This communication with Joseth happened more than a year... Read More
One of the things most critical to home business success... Read More
Goal Setting |