Embracing 'Year Zero'
This week I wanted to talk about the concept of ‘Year Zero’.
When you start something new, be it acquiring a new skill, setting a new business or starting a new work out routine, it's likely that you won’t get any results as soon as you start.
During these early stages, you do not see any visible progress and the uncomfortable truth is that you’ve got to put in a lot of work and time before you see any meaningful results.
That’s Year Zero, commonly known as ‘Beginner phase’.
It’s when you shouldn’t expect to see your numbers going up or big results rolling in.
At this stage, it's all about laying down the foundation- just focus on getting started and staying consistent.
I am a big proponent of consistency. In my opinion and experience sticking to something over time yields those compounding results we're all after. Let me break it down for you- Imagine a hundred people come up with a new idea, but only about 10% of them actually take action and start working on it. And of those, only a tiny fraction – about 10% – keep at it consistently over time. That means out of a hundred people, only one person sticks with it in the long run.
You are automatically at a huge advantage and way ahead of the game by simply starting and staying consistent!
So stay committed to the process, keep practicing, and don't forget to celebrate every little win along the way. It's all about the journey, not just the destination.
And I agree, staying consistent is challenging- and it helps to build systems around it. That's the secret. Systems!
There's a quote by James Clear that really hits the nail on the head:
"You do not rise to the level of your goals, but fall to the level of your systems."
What does that mean? Well, it's simple. Your goals might be lofty and ambitious, but if your systems are weak or nonexistent, you'll struggle to stay consistent.
And what are systems, exactly? They're the routines, habits, and processes that you put in place to make consistency easier. Whether it's setting a specific time each day to work on your craft, breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks, or finding accountability partners to keep you on track – these are all examples of systems that can help you stay consistent.
Remember, the journey to success is paved with small, consistent steps. So, focus on building strong systems that support your goals.
Sadly, it’s also the period where most people quit due to the lack of obvious results. It can feel frustrating because you're putting in a lot of effort, but you're not seeing the payoff yet.
This is when it helps to remember, there’s very rarely such a thing as an overnight success. Growing a business or learning a new skill is hard because it takes a lot of time and practice. So it's good to have a little faith and a little patience- Faith that something good will happen and the patience to stick at it long enough to make it happen.
So, if you're in your own "year zero" right now, don't get discouraged. Keep putting in the work, stay focused on your goals, and trust that your efforts will pay off in the long run. Remember, every journey starts with a single step, and every success story has its own "year zero" moments.
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