What exactly do you do next? 

• How are you going to get there?
• What are you supposed to do this week? 
• What’s first? 

Every leader asks these questions. 

The answer is simple: Take the first step!

Every forward step has a compound effect of establishing more momentum. 

Momentum is progress.

My dad taught me a long time ago to simply take the first step. He taught me that whenever you start doing something, the task at hand tends to feel less daunting. Progress fuels motivation. Even the slightest progress forward ignites a belief that you can accomplish more than you originally thought

Over the years, I fine-tuned my dad’s advice by identifying the ‘next three steps’ I can accomplish over the next seven days. That’s it—just three things over a seven day period. I simply call it “3 in 7.”

The game of American football offers a great analogy to the theory of advancing the ball forward. When a football team has the ball, their #1 goal is to get a first down.

• The standard football field is 100 yards long.
• The offensive team has 4 downs or plays to either score or gain 10 yards (first down).
• If the team gains 10 yards, then the downs start over (they maintain possession).
• If they don’t gain 10 yards in the first three plays, they usually punt the ball back to their opponent on the fourth play.

The logic is simple: Advance the ball. 

Stitch together enough first downs and you will eventually score. Do this better than your opponent and you will eventually win the game. If you talk to any head coach or offensive coordinator, winning the game is the farthest thing on their mind during the actual game. Like every good leader, their FOCUS is on the next 3 plays they can run that will help their team advance the ball.

When my clients want to strategize an important opportunity or project, I challenge them to identify the next three actions that have to happen in order for them to Move-the-Needle forward—to advance the ball. Whatever the task, I encourage them to break it down into smaller, more manageable components and steps. 

How much MORE progress could you make if you just focused on Moving-the-Needle forward?

Do you want to advance the ball forward? 

How amazing would it be to jumpstart progress in the next 14-days? 

I encourage you to accept the Move-the-Needle Challenge!