Embrace Exponential Effort

Renew Your Brilliance. The staleness of custom weakens admiration, and a mediocrity that's new often eclipses the highest excellence grown old. Try therefore to be born again in valor, in genius, in fortune, in all. Display startling novelties, rise afresh like the sun every day.
- Balthasar Gracian

Let’s be honest, the growth mindset may seem a little boring - with echoes of the tortoise and the hare. We all know that the slow and steady tortoise wins the race, but the rabbit sure seems to have more fun along the way!


How can we embrace a slow and steady growth mindset while also renewing our brilliance with fresh new ideas? Here are three simple ways to keep your ROCKET Goals fresh and exciting, while also staying relentlessly disciplined and steady.

1). Sprint and Celebrate
Concept: Break your long-term goal into smaller, manageable segments and introduce mini-challenges or milestones along the way. Each mini-challenge should have a clear, achievable objective and a tight deadline to create a sense of urgency and accomplishment.

Practice: For example, if your goal is to write a book, set a mini-challenge to complete a chapter every two weeks, or write a set number of words each day. Celebrate each mini-victory to keep your motivation high.

Benefit: This approach keeps the process dynamic and engaging, as you constantly encounter fresh tasks and milestones, keeping the novelty alive while maintaining discipline through structured challenges.

2. Creative Cross-pollination
Concept: To keep your intellectual engagement high, integrate learning from other fields related to your goal. This could involve reading books, attending workshops, or even engaging in different forms of art or science that relate to your goal.

Practice: If your goal is in a creative field like music or art, explore psychology to understand what captivates audiences, or study history to see how styles have evolved over time. This broader knowledge can inspire new ideas and approaches in your work.

Benefit: This strategy helps renew your perspective and can lead to innovative ways of approaching your goals. It ensures that your pursuit doesn’t become monotonous and aligns with the idea of being "born again in valor, in genius, in fortune."

3. Deliberate Diversions
Concept: Similar to cross-pollination, but quicker and more spontaneous, introduce regular creative diversions that are loosely related to your main goal but allow you to explore and experiment in a less structured way. This approach fosters creativity and prevents burnout by offering a refreshing change of pace without completely detaching from your overarching objectives.

Practice: If your main goal is to improve your fitness level, a creative diversion might be trying out a new sport or fitness class once a month that’s different from your usual routine. For professional or creative goals, spend an hour exploring a new software tool, technique, or collaborating on a small side project that sparks your interest.

Benefit: These diversions provide quick mental breaks, which are essential for maintaining long-term discipline. They keep the journey towards your goals vibrant and interesting, ensuring that the process remains enjoyable and stimulating. By regularly stepping into different activities, you can return to your primary goals with renewed energy and maybe even new insights that can enhance your main pursuits.

By integrating these strategies, you maintain a balance between the excitement of new challenges and the steady, disciplined approach needed for harnessing the growth mindset. This combination will help you stay motivated and engaged each day as you work towards your ROCKET Goals. Renew Your Brilliance!