If you’re anything like me, it’s far too easy to get overwhelmed by all that you “need” to do each day. In your career, for your family, for your home, for yourself.
But time and again, studies have shown that small strides lead to great progress.
My favorite example is a British Pro Cycling team who searched for 1% improvements in everything in order to produce the first British winner of the Tour de France. Lead by David Brailsford, Team Sky improved things no one else was even looking at. The proper way to wash your hands so you don’t get sick? Yeah. They studied that and taught their riders and staff. They studied sleep and routinely bring their own pillows and mattresses to races.
They had a goal that first year. Use marginal gains to win the Tour de France in five years.
They won it in three. In six years, they’ve won it four times.
If that’s not proof, I don’t know what is.
So what can you do today to make a small, measurable impact?
I won’t even make you think about it. Here’s a brief list. If you have suggestions, email me. I’d love to hear from you.
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Start by reexamining who your target reader is and where she/he hangs out.
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Share something. Does your character own a coffee shop? Share a coffee related article or photo.
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Share a tidbit you learned while researching your book.
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Share a funny story.
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Email someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Is there a writing pal who you’ve lost touch with? A reader you haven’t heard from in a few months? A former editor who just had a baby?
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Strike up a conversation with a fellow author on Twitter.
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Email an author friend and set up some cross promotion or a collaboration.
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Visit a book blog, read a few posts and connect via comments.
