“Undercommit, overachieve.”
It’s not exactly what we’re used to hearing in our hyper-striving culture, but it’s advice I treasure from a writing teacher.
Every week when we went around the room to commit to what we’d do before the next writing class, our teacher would encourage realism: “How much time are you spending writing now? None? OK, how about one hour once instead of several hours every day in the next week?”
My Weight Watchers leader does the same: “If you’re not exercising at all currently, will you really go to the gym on a daily basis?”
One small commitment can grow into so much more. A massive overhaul, though? That’s just a set-up for failure. If you don’t believe me, just ponder what happens with all those New Year’s resolutions!
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“Give it your all!” or “Undercommit, overachieve” —
Which speaks more loudly to you?
Baby steps. Take baby steps.
Absolutely!
I most definitely like the sound of undercommit, overachieve. It feels like there’s room to breathe in there.
That’s a really good way to think about it! Thanks for writing.
Love this! No more super human overachieving for me! Good enough is good enough.
Yes, definitely a break from super-human overachieving!
Good advice. I used to be bad at trying to do too much now I’m leaning more to undercommit.
Lean in! But not necessarily in the Sheryl Sandberg sense–she might not get the under-commit philosophy.