Focus on the Inputs

I naturally enjoy planning. As a kid, I used to make elaborate drawings of skyscrapers I wanted to build. As an adult, I like to look at different certifications I can get, competitions I could enter and hobbies I could take part in. Execution, however, is a different story. I often struggle following through on my grand plans.

Yesterday, millions of people decided to make a New Year’s resolution. Unfortunately, most of them will give up before February. I used to be one of these people. I would make a resolution, but life would get in the way. Executing the plan seemed too difficult. Results didn’t come fast enough. I would get bored, distracted, discouraged and frustrated.

Then I found a better way to plan.

Most resolutions are results oriented:

“I will to lose twenty pounds.” – “I will to read twenty books” – “I will improve my relationships”

These results oriented resolutions fail because 1) they do not tell you what to actually do and 2) they do not give you a path to daily success.

Successful resolutions focus on the inputs rather than the results. Four years ago, I stumbled across this solution by accident. In an effort to complete my results oriented solution to run a half marathon, I made a second resolution to run three times a week. Better yet, I decided I would run in the mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This gave me a resolutions I could control and focused on the daily inputs that drive toward a long term objective.

Input oriented resolutions are more likely to be successful, because they prescribe the action you need to take on a daily basis.

“I will eat 2 servings of vegetables at each meal.” – “I will read for thirty minutes every morning” – “I will call my mom every Wednesday at 5p”

Not only do these prescribe the necessary action, but they give you a way to accomplish your resolution today. Every day I got my run in was a victory. The specificity of the resolution allowed me to know exactly what to do and when I was going to do it. Execution was still a struggle, but I had removed several barriers simply in the way I structured the goal.

I ended up completing my half marathon. More importantly, I learned how to succeed at making life-altering resolutions. Focusing on the inputs has allowed me to continue running, and add several other healthy habits to my life over the last four years. As you contemplate your resolution (or contemplate if you should make one), look for the ways you can identify the inputs that will lead you to success.

Change doesn’t come overnight. Execution will be a struggle. But you have the ability to take control of your life; to drive toward the best version of yourself. Making a resolution that focuses on the inputs will start you down the path that leads to success.

For further reading on successful execution, I would recommend the 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, & Jim Huling. It is business oriented, but can be applied to your personal life.