Do you spend a lot of time planning, yet struggle to actually get things done? Here is a little advice that you may find helpful: create separation between your goal planning and the act of doing it.

First, think about your end game, such as “I want to …” or “I want to increase the number of sales I make this year by 20%.” However, once you’ve begun to actually do the task, shift your focus on to what’s rewarding and fun about the activity itself, but de-emphasize the outcome.

In the end, improvement comes from knowing our own unique challenges and abilities, not from following trendy formulas. It’s about understanding valleys and peaks, comparing ourselves to ourselves, adapting along the way, and staying small while staying big.

This is not just advice for your own self-improvement; it’s a way to lead others. After all, you have to be able to lead yourself before you lead another.