pt robbins, your favorite motivational guru, is in session.
today’s lesson is “how to move a ship.” yes, “how to move a ship.”
envision a large luxury liner traveling across the atlantic ocean. how can we move it? how can we turn this massive object around?
pt says let’s “grab the captain’s wheel and let’s make it happen!”
in both personal and business matters, we are confronted with either huge tasks or goals. these projects are so big that, on first impression, they may be immovable or insurmountable. they may be something that cannot be tackled in an instant. there is no flipping on a switch to get these jobs done. they are too big and not going anywhere soon.
sometimes, however, we can get ambitious and we may want to or need to take on something big.
how can we move or take on big things?
there are two elements that need to be implemented. the first element is incremental change. incremental change is something that must be thought out. what steps must be taken to get to the larger goal? the second element is to make the incremental changes over a period of extended time. the notion of taking time can be analogized to watering plants. you can kill a plant if you give them a certain amount of water in a short time. the same amount of water over time can keep sustain the plant.
the ten commandments’ story shows that god understood that this approach is a necessary element to taking on a large task. despite giving the ten commandments, a large monumental event, the incremental measures over extended periods of time that brought success to the forming of a new nation.
deuteronomy 6:4-4, states
“hear, o israel: the lord is our god; the lord is one. and you shall love the lord, your god, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means. and these words, which i command you this day, shall be upon your heart. and you shall teach them to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. and you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for ornaments between your eyes. and you shall inscribe them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.”
thus, the imposition of incremental steps over time was the means of solidifying a covenant. speaking the words, teaching the words, putting reminders of the words on one’s body, and placing the words in conspicuous places are all incremental means which further cemented the covenant.
thus, incremental means played a large role in the culture shift. this was the means for transforming an oppressed people into a nation with morals and values.
so, how does this help you?
if you are ready to take on a big project, think about that big old boat. think that its going to take careful steering and time to make it happen. thus, with your big project, “planning, implementation, and patience” are the key. just ask pt.
best of luck on whatever your goal or task is!
be well!!
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