1 Inch, 1 Degree, 1 Piece, 1 Step at a Time

🎧 👉 Prefer audio? You can also listen to me share about this in podcast episode #013 here.

One. Thing. At. A. Time.

Life becomes much simpler when we focus on one thing at a time.

Here are some real-world examples and visuals to consider, along with some tips on how to apply these concepts to your own life.

Below is a link to a fun video of me achieving a personal best in pull-ups last weekend as part of my commitment to be healthier and have a better life balance...it happened 1 pull-up at a time...

Be sure to TURN THE SOUND ON!!

One Inch 

There’s a catchy saying “yard by yard, life is hard; inch by inch, life's a cinch.”

Picture a little inchworm going along the ground inch by inch. If you don't watch it for a while and come back, you're maybe shocked at how far it traveled. You may not even see it anymore because it has made its way quite far.

One Piece

Have you ever watched birds build a nest?

When we were in Africa, we watched a bunch of Yellow Weaver birds build nests hanging in a tree over the water, and they would take one little piece of grass at a time and weave it into their nest. It was remarkable to watch. 

And at my home, we have bluebirds, swallows, and nuthatches that will nest in our bird boxes each Spring. We watch them create their nests, just one piece of grass at a time. 

I’m always amazed when we're cleaning the boxes out after the nesting season is over at how much stuff they accumulate to create a super cozy, dense nest to protect their eggs. 

Another excellent example of one piece at a time is a puzzle.

You open the puzzle box, dump out all the pieces, and start with one piece. You look at that one puzzle piece and usually only one characteristic of that piece—the dominant color or the shape of the edge. 

You focus on one tiny piece at a time to create the bigger picture of the puzzle. 

Chainlink also comes to mind when I think about pieces that come together. 

The comedian Jerry Seinfeld gave a tip to a young comic. He told him, “Get a big wall calendar and put a big X on it each day you write. After a few days, you'll see a chain. Keep doing it, and don't break the chain!” 

Picture Jerry Seinfeld saying that: “Don't break the chain!” 

That inspired me to have many other insights around chain links. One link by itself does not do much. But if you add a bunch, you have this super useful and powerful creation.

Go here to listen to my latest podcast, episode #013 (It’s brief yet jam-packed with helpful concepts!)

What Else You’ll Learn

• How 7 different concepts related to chain links can be applied to your life
• How taking a single step has helped me multiple times throughout my life
• What ships and water can teach us about degrees

One inch, one degree, one piece, or one step at a time is the way to achieve any goal.

One thing at a time is the way to change your life.

🎧 👉 Prefer audio? You can also listen to me share about this in podcast episode #013 here.