"Counting up or Counting Down?"

Working towards a goal?
I was reminded early this morning as I was working out of the difference in "counting up" or "counting down". (please forgive all the workout references. I'm in the middle of a big personal goal to reshape my body. If you want to know how, email and I'll include more. It's working!)

Counting up.
While doing a round of push ups, I set a number in my head and counted up to that number as I completed each rep. As I got tired and the numbers got bigger, I struggled and reaching the goal seemed insurmountable. I didn't make it.

Counting down.
I don't like to fail, so the next time the coach on the video started counting down, so I followed suit. 16-15-14-13-12... As I counted down, the number remaining got smaller. My motivation and perception of the probability of success increased. 13-14-15... each step seems higher and further. 4-3-2-1 each step seems closer, reachable.

What goals are you working on? Make them a "countdown".
If you're working on a big list of tasks, can you make it a count down?
If you're working on selling products, set your quota and count down to you goal.
If you have 10 vendors to check prices, shipping, and ordering requirements for your farm market, make a big countdown list or print off big numbers to rip off the wall as you get each one done.

Accelerating motivation.
As you approach your goal, you'll find yourself accelerating. If you started with 15 tasks, when you hit 3-to-go you know you're so closer, you might as well finish!

Trick yourself.
Is it actually any fewer tasks to complete? No, but changing your perspective can make it feel easier to get things done. It's not wrong to trick yourself if it gets you closer to your goals

The countdown is on.
See if you can make a countdown out of your next list of items to do, sell, or service. Celebrate when you complete it. Every good countdown deserves a "blast off".

Have a great week. - Hugh

PS Let me know when you try it, and tell me how it felt. Drop me an email any time.