Seven months ago, I wrote about compounding the right things, I want to build on the idea as it relates exponential growth.
There are small practices or habits, that when performed with consistency, will build and compound over time. Find the right set of practices and growth becomes exponential.
When I joined Microsoft, I was part of a much larger hiring class. The talent of that hiring class was better than any of colleagues I had worked with to that date. Almost nine years later, I can see visible differences in professional success. Some of my colleagues appear to be growing incrementally year by year. While others appear to be on a blazing rocket ship growing in scope, challenges, and impact. Admittedly, I am judging only what I can observe. Surely there are successes among my peers that are not visible to me.
The difference in success among these two groups of peers has been in the consistency of execution of the “little” things. Things like:
- Allocating time appropriately across the important domains of life
- Seeking to understand desired outcomes
- Spending the appropriate time to recharge and refuel both body and mind
- Building relationships of trust
These sound like simple practices but only yield results when consistently done over time.
The practices cited in this example are far less important than the principle. Consistent and deliberate practice over time leads to exponential growth. In the beginning all growth looks the same. Over time the separation is exponential.
Where do you want to grow exponentially? Who do you know that has grown exponentially? Review what habits they consistently deliver over time and experiment in your life which ones you feel will benefit you and your purpose.
Write down your intentions and practices and see what progress you can make.
