I’m in the middle of reading Craig Groeschel’s new book Divine Direction. While I generally wait until I’ve completed a book for writing a post related to it I found one of his illustrations so compelling I thought I would share it today. Here it is: Little acts of discipline make big impacts over time. Groeschel points out that he hates flossing. Nevertheless, he flosses every night. Why? Because that simple, little commitment impacts many others. While he does a bit of exaggerating to make his point, Groescehl lists a string of impacts related to either flossing or not flossing.
He points out that when he flosses before bed it helps him commit to other small, yet important actions, such as getting enough sleep, reading his Bible and praying, and working out regularly. These habits work together to help provide an overall sense of well-being that make him more effective at work, which means he comes home on time in the evening, which means his wife loves him, and that’s why they have six children. You see the exaggeration, and yet his point is important. Flossing is not a fun activity for many of us, but a commitment to do it daily helps to reinforce the truth of the importance of small commitments done over time impacting larger commitments.
I found it hilarious, when Groeschel offered the string of events that came out of his deciding not to floss. After not flossing, he didn’t slip well, which meant he was too tired to get up to read his Bible or work out, which meant he decided to eat junk food through the day, because he wasn’t in good shape anyway. That all let to his not being able to focus at work, so he had to work late. That meant he decided to take a back road which was shorter and speed, in order to get home sooner. On the way a policeman waiting on the road saw the act of speeding and chased Groeschel, who decided to attempt to outrun the officer. This led to a roadblock of four police cars at his house. When he stopped at it the officers arrested him, booked him, took a mug shot of him that was posted all over social media and his life was ruined. Wow! That’s obviously an exaggeration to prove a point but what a point it proves.
The daily habits we develop over time, the small daily habits we develop over time, do contribute to the effectiveness of our leadership over time. If we don’t invest time and commitment to the small matters of life, we often don’t invest the time and commitment needed to succeed in the big ones. Groeschel points out that often when we become aware that we aren’t being effective we commit to several or a half dozen or even ten new habits that will overhaul our effectiveness. He suggest developing one new discipline each year, a small one and only one. He points out that in five years that would be five small habits over a decade ten and over a lifetime enough habits to transform us into the small percentage of folks who actually accomplish the small and big goals of our lives.
As I read Groeschel’s words I was convicted of how many times I have failed in the small disciplines, which have contributed to a lack of effectiveness in many other matters. So, last night I flossed my teeth…
Here’s to leading better by taking the time to act on one, small commitment–today!