Motivation: Small Changes, Big Results

When I was 8 years old, my parents let me go to the toy store with my buddy Mike and his Mom.

My dad gave me a whole dollar to spend.

At the store I found a Frankenstein model that I really really wanted. The problem was the model was 88 cents, I had a dollar and I didn't want to waste the 12 cents difference.

Fortunately for me, Mike's Mom explained that if I took the model to the check-out counter and gave the lady the dollar, she would give me 12 cents back.

I thought this was a pretty cool way to run things so I bought the model.

The model is long gone, but the lesson is not.

Once someone explained the concept of change to me, a new part of the world opened for me.

In my work with helping people to get the changes they want and need in their lives, I find that most clients do not understand the concept of change. Once people see how easy change can be, they get excited, begin to believe they really can change, and a whole new world opens up to them.

One of the most common places people get confused about change is the false notion that in order to change you have to make big, huge, and difficult changes for it to make a difference.

That's just not true. A small change, the right small change, can bring big results.

For example, a plane flying from Atlanta to Hawaii could be off course by only one degree at the start and wind up in Australia.

Applied to our own lives, just one small correction in our course can make all the difference.

I know of a man who was very out of shape who decided to start running. The first day, he made one small change in his day. He ran from the mail box in front of his house to the mail box of the house next door and back. By adding one more mail box to each of his runs, he was able to run a marathon within the year.

Small change, big results.

Let's take an example from one of my coaching clients. This person really wanted to start a savings plan but believed he did not have enough money to begin.

Experience tells me if you look in the right places, you can usually find a little bit of money.

We discovered that he was spending at least $2 a day on a soda and a candy bar on the way to work each morning.

That small amount of pocket change adds up to $10 a week, approximately $43 a month, which is more than $500 a year.

Put that small $2 a day into the right interest bearing places, and you are well on your way to a healthy savings plan, all based on the small change in a pocket.

Small change, big results.

So let's put some hands and feet on this, and apply these notions in your own life.

Choose something you have been wanting to change - just one small thing to do differently. Give up caffeine, walk around the block each night, go to bed an hour earlier, listen to your kids, smile at your spouse, etc. All of these are small changes that can lead to big results.

Here's my challenge:

test this out and see if what I am saying makes practical sense.

For the next week, choose just one small thing to do differently and commit to it.

At the end of the week, check out the results.

I'm willing to bet you'll be surprised and motivated to move on to some more changes. Then you are on your way.

It may even open up a whole new world of

small changes, big results.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

---

Recommendations for the Best Personal Growth Books

I can't stress this enough: You've got to motivate yourself... Read More

4 Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation

It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to... Read More

Staying the Course

Are you willing to stay the course? Once you have... Read More

Motivation and Change: Creating Your Daily Success Program

I get some of my best ideas for my column... Read More

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

It is not just new age hype, studies in the... Read More

Dont Get Hysterical About The Historical

The tension was palpable in the room as I began... Read More

Can You Can Can? What You Can Do If You Really Go For It

One hundred years ago the laundry girls of Montmartre invented... Read More

Why You Should Write Your Obituary Today

Writing your own obituary sounds and feels a little strange,... Read More

Discover The Spark That Motivates You In Business and Life

Can There Be Any Other Business Like Your Own Business?"Whatever... Read More

Taking The Leap

Every four years, February gives us a whole 24 hours... Read More

10 Things To Do This Summer

Looking for a summer project? How about working on who... Read More

Taking Responsibility

Taking action about our current station in life involves taking... Read More

When the Door of Opportunity Opens

Anybody can achieve anything ? do you believe that? I... Read More

JJKs First Six Secrets to Becoming a Successful, Creative Entrepreneur!

Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!As many of you may know I have... Read More

This Just Ain?t Good!

"Nope, this just ain't good!" How many times in our... Read More

Are You in Touch With Your Inner M?

"M" is for Motivation.What motivates you to do a good... Read More

Right Action & Right Effort: The Keys to Martial Arts Mastery, Keys 3 &4

In the philosophical teachings that form the base for our... Read More

Getting Out of a Rut

Are you feeling bored or restless? Do you need to... Read More

For Those Who Have Suffered!

As one who has suffered from the long, term effects... Read More

If I Had 24 Hours To Live

A few years back, the ex-recording artist, turned Pastor, turned... Read More

Finding Yourself: Finding Passion Series - 1 of 3

We have been told that the things we don't like... Read More

Finding A Cure for I Disease

The 21-year-old rookie cop had his big chance to brag... Read More

How to Give Yourself a Motivational Warm Up When You Wake Up

Question:What is the worst thing you can do when you... Read More

Self-Improvement-Inspiration: How to Exit Your Own Rat Race

We can all get in a rut from time to... Read More

ACTION is More Important than Knowledge!

It was Albert Einstein who stated that 'imagination is more... Read More

Unleash Your Unlimited Power

Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Your... Read More

Awaken The Sleeping Attitude Within You!

I have made the statement numerous times that; "You are... Read More

Free Will To The Rescue

Today's society and your private world are the results of... Read More

Heres How Tiger, Oprah, And Spielberg Stay Motivated

I want to share with you a powerful principle that... Read More

Commit to Doing 80%

Instead of trying to be perfect, it is better to... Read More

Becoming Rich in Your Own Way

If you really want to become rich, then begin by... Read More

Whats Your Zipline?

A few years ago, I was with 20 of America's... Read More

Procrastination: Make It Work FOR You!

Man, I love to procrastinate! And I'm pretty darn good... Read More