A Little Equation That Creates Big Results

by Chris Widener

"The purpose of a man is in action not thought." -Thomas Carlyle

People will often ask me how I get so much done in my life. They wonder how I am able to accomplish so many things. The answer is found not in what a great person I am, but in an equation I came up with a few years ago and that I remind myself of on an almost daily basis. And when I live this equation out, it produces big results. What people don't seem to grasp is that this equation will work for anybody! Anyone can see results in their life if they will live it out!

This little equation, when understood and acted upon, is perhaps the most powerful equation there is, in regard to long-term achievement and accomplishment. Yet, this is not a complex equation. In fact, it is rather simple. So what is it?

Your short-term actions multiplied by time equal your long-term accomplishments.

If you want to see change in your life, see big results, the first thing you must do is change your current actions. Otherwise, the old saying becomes a reality: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!" But if we change our actions, we will see different results!

Most people want to accomplish a lot in their lives. Yet very few actually do. Why is this? It is because what they believe will equal their long-term accomplishments is wrong. Here are some of the things that people believe will create great accomplishments for them:

Beliefs

Vision

Big dreams

Ideas

Ideals

Values

Desire

The truth is, that while these things are very important, they are not enough in and of themselves. We need to have the above underlying all that we do, but we need to actually do something! And this is where most people stop. We need to take action on our dreams and beliefs every day.

Here are some examples of how this works.

Who loses weight? The one who knows all about the benefits of exercise or the one who walks three miles a day?

Who retires early? The one who dreams of a house on the beach or the one who invests $300 a month?

Who writes books? The one who desires to become a best-selling author or the one who gets up early and writes for half an hour a day?

Who has the best marital relationship? The one who knows how much spending time with their spouse can improve their relationship or the one who sits down and talks with their spouse every night?

Who makes the most sales? The one who believes they can become a great salesperson or the one who makes 10 sales calls a day?

I think you get the point. When it all comes down to it, we must act upon our vision, beliefs and ideals, or we won't see them come to fruition. I see too many people who know what is right but don't ever do anything about it. Imagine what a difference we could make in our lives and the lives of others if we would simply begin to act on our beliefs!

When I get to the end of my life, I want to know that I have done all I can to make this world a better place and enhance the lives of those around me. I want to know that I gave it my best shot. And I am sure you do, too.

I remember reading an interview with an author who has written numerous books that have sold in the tens of millions. The interviewer asked him how he did it. His answer was that he got up every morning before anyone else in his family and wrote, longhand, with a pencil, for an hour. Then he quit and went about his day. But his short-term actions piled up. Seven hours a week, 30 hours a month, 365 hours a year. After a while, he had lots of books!

Some questions as we leave:

" What long-term accomplishments do you want to see come to pass?

" What short-term actions will you need to do over time to see them come to pass?

" What will you do today to begin seeing your dreams come true?

" What will you do this week to see them come true?

You can have an awesome future, filled with great achievements and results, if you begin today to take action and make it a reality!

One more time, so you can plug it in, memorize it and live it:

Your short-term actions multiplied by time equal your long-term accomplishments.