Common wisdom in society dictates that there is a finite amount of stuff in the world. We’re taught that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. Most people believe that personality traits exist on a sliding scale (she’s so pretty - she must be dim). And many think there are a limited number of seats at the table.
I have some news that might not be news to you. All of this is baloney.
Hogwash, balderdash, poppycock, and malarkey.
The matter thing is true, but nothing on this earth, my friends, is set on a sliding scale or finite. From my experience, the world works less on a give and take basis and more on a scale akin to compounding interest.
Here’s an example from my life this week. See, I agreed to take on a number of responsibilities this week that I normally would not have. Additionally, a coworker is down for the count and I’m working a bit more than usual. And there are some very high-stakes events looming on the horizon that require a good bit of planning.
You would think that my productivity would plummet because of these additional tasks.
Nope. I’m getting more done.
See, the treadmill of life rotates as fast as we allow it to move. And many of us don’t turn up the dial because we are afraid it will go too fast and we might fall off.
When we send an email, we expect that one (might) come back in return.
We think we only have time and energy to reply to one email at a time, so we send out one rather than blasting 10,000 to a mailing list.
I believe that the difference between massively successful people and people living the status quo is that the massively successful people are willing to spin the wheel so fast that they fall off sometimes. As I said in yesterday’s Pragmatic Productivity, they’re willing to let things get messy.
My kid hates to be pushed on the swing because he’s afraid of it going too fast. So, he jumps in backwards at an angle and lets it rock gently until it comes to a stop.
When you send one email and wait for a response, you’re losing time and momentum. You’re essentially letting the friction of life slow your swing to a stop. Then, you have to jump off and start again.
When you’re willing to take on that extra project, push past your comfort zone, and yes, maybe fall off the swing…that is when I believe we find growth. That is where I think we tap into the magical compounding interest of this infinite universe.
Now, I never quote the bible, but this verse stands out to me: “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” I believe that when you show you’re ready to fall off the swing in life, you are allowed to step into the fast lane.
Have you ever watched the exponential rise to fame of a new musical artist? It’s fast and furious and (often) much too overwhelming. That is the equivalent of a treadmill set on 11, the fast lane, and letting yourself be pushed high on that swing. The growth is exponential. If that growth were one email at a time or one opportunity at a time, those stars would never make it to where they should be.
Some people are thrust into the spotlight. But the rest of us? We can jump in as well. I believe you need to have more to get more. And how do you get more? Say yes more. Jump in with both feet.
Send that email blast, ask more than one person to invest, and make a declaration on social media. This week, I challenge you to let yourself be pushed by the magical momentum of this universe.
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Thank you for reading!
Love,
Michelle