The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
The formula for achievement.
Do you ever wonder how little everyday decisions shape our lives? Have you ever wanted to find a better approach to shaping your destiny? Do you want to learn more about the science behind achievement?
We live in a society highly driven by technology and instant gratification. Everywhere, we get bombarded with messages trying to catch our attention. "How to get rich, how to get fit, how to get younger, how to change your diet, etc." The list is endless. The common nominator is overnight results, with little effort.
Social media and marketing messages have disrupted our sense of what it takes to succeed in life. Luckily, there is a simple formula for achievement. We must step back and tap out of the noise of the "quick-fix" mentality - that is setting us up for failure.
What is the Compound Effect about?
Quoting the author, "The Compound Effect is the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices."
The formula looks like this:
Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = Radical difference.
What makes the Compound Effect so incredibly powerful is its simplicity. Yet the most challenging aspect is that we must consistently and intentionally work for a while before we can reap the benefits of our actions. Understanding the Compound Effect is the most effective antidote to the "quick fix" mentality and the need for instant gratification that society has conditioned us for.
Choices.
Everything in our lives results from the choices we make at some point. Essentially, we make choices, and then our choices make us. No matter how insignificant they seem, every choice alters our trajectory in life. Nobody intended to neglect their health, end up in bankruptcy, or go through a divorce by choice. However, these are often (luckily not always) consequences of an insignificant small series of choices.
The first thing we need to do is become aware of what choices led us there. Most of the time, our minds run on autopilot, making unconscious decisions. We can start tracking our progress with awareness instead of leaving things up to coincidences. When we track our progress, we can amplify doing the small and simple actions repeatedly to ignite the magic of the Compound Effect.
What separates success from failure is the willingness to put in the effort consistently over time—holding ourselves accountable.
Habits.
Psychological studies reveal that 95 percent of everything we feel, think, do, and achieve results from our learned habits. Habits and routines allow us to spend minimal conscious energy on everyday tasks—like putting on clothes, tying a knot, etc.
Building a daily routine separates the most successful people from everyone else. So why do we have so many bad habits? We consider ourselves "rational"—even that might not always be true. Our need for instant gratification turns us reactive and nonthinking—" un-rational."
Don't spend time beating yourself up if you've had a few bad habits you haven't been able to get rid of. Understanding how humans are wired can make breaking this pattern easier for many.
However, making tiny and by eye insignificant adjustments to our daily routines can dramatically improve our trajectory in life. Our lives boil down to this formula:
YOU -> CHOICE + BEHAVIOUR + HABIT + COMPOUND = GOALS
Learn more.
Becoming aware of the Compound Effect and taking action on the lessons have significantly impacted my life. It's easy to underestimate what little adjustments can bring to the table.
