“The critical decisions in life are always the tiny ones.” Jeff Olson
Whether we are conscious of it or not, the smallest decisions we make on a daily basis produce our lifetime results.
Steve was a struggling English teacher, living paycheck to paycheck. He wrote a 55-page story about a high school girl. Then despondency set in. Certain that this would be yet one more in a long line of rejections, he threw the papers in the trash.
The next morning as his wife was cleaning house, she emptied his trash can, saw the partial manuscript, wiped off the cigarette ashes, read the story and took it back to him along with some words of encouragement.
She was right! He went on to finish the manuscript and the paperback rights sold for almost $500,000. This launched the career of Steven King, the most successful writer of the 20th Century.
What Tabitha King pulled out of the trash was a penny. Just one penny’s worth of action.
Flip back the chapters of history to December of 1955. In Montgomery, Alabama, a weary, black seamstress climbed on a city bus and sat down. She refused to give up her seat to a white guy, thus breaking the law. The bus driver threatened to arrest her.
She was fined, ridiculed and harassed; however, Rosa Parks will go down through the annals of history as the woman who sparked the movement that would abolish legal segregation. Her case was the catalyst that rocked the United States and changed the course of history. Yet Rosa Park’s action was just a penny’s worth. She simply stood her ground when asked to give up her seat on the bus.
The slightest actions build on each other.
What if you were to improve yourself today just three tenth’s of one percent? That would be .006 percent tomorrow and then .009 percent the next day. In just one year’s time you will have improved by 100%. One step towards eating healthier food, or focusing on the greatness in your child or partner, repeated each day, will produce a mega-change in 365 days.
I’ve employed a new habit in my life as a daily reminder to work on the three-tenths of one percent. I back my car into the garage. This simple act reminds me to deposit that penny back into an action that will hit the three-tenths of one percent each and every day.
“Every day, in every moment, you get to exercise choices that will determine whether or not you will become a great person, living a great life. Greatness is not something predetermined, predestined, or carved into your fate by forces beyond your control. Greatness is always in the moment of the decision.”
“But you need to start with a penny.” Jeff Olson
August 14th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
OH Darlene you have done it again, a very well spoken and poignant post. Hey you look great in Blue as well. I love the idea of three tenths of one percent, seems very doable not overwhelming.
Greatness is always in the moment of the decision. That is going to be my saying for the week.
Many thanks Belinda
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August 16th, 2010 at 4:57 am
Belinda,
It is my saying, too. With that thought in mind it spurs one on to be just that much better each day:)
August 15th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Very nice Darlene~
Like always, you created a beautiful post! You are so right, just a penny worth of effort can help us become what we want to be! I really like seeing you in your movies!
I’ll remember you when I am tempted to skip something or even give up. I’ll say to myself, “just a penny’s worth like Darlene says”
Sounds like I’m just saying that because it’s in the comments, but I mean it! I will! Thank you!
~Linda
Linda G. Cox´s last [type] ..Generation X
August 16th, 2010 at 5:01 am
Linda,
That simple thought does change one’s outlook, doesn’t it? We’ll keep that as our motto, k?
August 15th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Hey Darlene
You come up with some amazing stories. I love these two and the concept of 3/10ths of one percent is amazing and I will join you on that one.
I thought red was your color but now I think it is the beautiful blue, you look absolutely stunning in it.
It is amazing to hear that Steven King may not have been published if not for his wife. I guess there are times when we all feel like throwing our goals out the window. This post is a valuable reminder.
Thanks Darlene
Sue
Sue Price´s last [type] ..Detour or to Retreat
August 16th, 2010 at 5:03 am
Thanks, Sue. It truly is amazing that without Tabitha King, Stephen would have just remained a struggling English teacher!
August 17th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Darlene,
Very cool post! So often we feel we cannot make a difference… even in our own lives… that we are but just one person. And again so often, it is the one small act that rocks the world.
A great reminder for us to go for it, make small improvements, take a single action towards making things better… and the results will be astounding!
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
http://TheCoolestCouple.com
August 17th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Darlene, you are so right…it is the little things we do in life that make such a difference. And the cumulative effect of doing something every day to improve your life or someone else’s cannot be underestimated. As you say, it applies to all aspects of life. I will definitely join you in this one and lets see what transformations we can achieve in the next 12 months….
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October 16th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Hi Darlene,
You are right on with this post, many people don’t think that the smallest decisions can have the biggest impact.
I have made a commitment to myself to do certain things a day to move not only myself forward mentally but also my business. I have started having a daily method of operation that keeps me on track on what I want to accomplish that day.
There are so many different distractions in this digital age that we live in and we can easily get sidetracked.
Thank you for the great post and video, looking forward to hearing more from you!
October 19th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Robert,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I’d love to know what your daily exercise regime is in your business:)
October 17th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Great quotes! Jeff Olsen is the man!!
I have had the pleasure of hanging out with him on 2 occasions and he is truly one of the coolest individuals out there.
We all must master the mundane if we intend on living more than a mundane life. Awesome post!
Have a great week!
Joe
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