In any endeavor we put ourselves into, time is needed to achieve any desirable goal, no matter if we are talking about fitness, business, or even a skillset.
We need to put in the time, but a very interesting thing happens…
Let’s first start with the human reluctance to change. It’s difficult for the vast majority of humans to accept changes with ease, so don’t feel bad if it occurs to you.
It is deeply ingrained in our psychological tendencies.
It’s easier to keep on with the norm, to keep the things we are used to doing just as they are, as that avoids the cognitive load of making active choices that involve complex variables in any decision.
Think, for example, of having to move to another place versus staying where you are living now.
Probably if there is no real “necessity” of moving, such as your landlord wanting to end your contract, or you got a job in a new city, there would be little to no motivation to move.
Why?
Well, it’s easier to just continue your current arrangement versus having to start thinking about where you would like to live, then having to choose between different options at different price points, also considering the neighborhood safety and distance to restaurants, gyms, or any activity you enjoy, then also the effort of packing all of your stuff and hiring a moving company, to then having to adapt to the new place and figuring out if you need to also get internet service, etc.
Sounds fun…?
I guessed so. That is probably an extreme example, but it is what our brains want to avoid: active decision making unless it is absolutely needed.
But why am I telling you all of this?
Because in any new endeavor you want to explore, the same resistance to change can take place.
This is no good news if we want to grow, explore, and experience new things in life!
Thus, the first step is to just start. Knowing that you are falling prey to this psychological bias to avoid change is your first defense against it.
You need to just start. It doesn’t matter how small the first step is toward the thing you want to do, but do something.
That’s why they say by starting you already won 50% of the battle. But what is the other 50%?
Consistency
This is where the “Law of 100” comes into place, which I first heard from Noah Kagan.
It consists of doing “100” of whatever stuff you are starting or getting into, putting in the “reps”.
- Are you starting a newsletter? Great, send the first 100 emails.
- Starting a new podcast? Do your first 100 episodes.
- Signed up for yoga? Go to 100 classes.
How many things have you started (great! that’s 50%) but then just quit completely before seeing any meaningful results ?
There can be many reasons why you quit. Maybe you didn’t see results as soon as you expected, maybe you didn’t enjoy it as much after all, or maybe you are getting interested in a completely new endeavor.
It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you follow through with at least 100.
Why? Because 90%+ will quit. That’s why most people don’t achieve much even after starting!
The Law of 100 gives you a much better chance to improve, to get better, to see results, to really get a feel for anything new you start.
Think of going to the gym and quitting after 30 days because you didn’t see results.
Going to guitar lessons and quitting at lesson 11 because you weren’t a rockstar already.
Starting a blog and quitting at post 38 because very few people read it.
The Law of 100 also helps you get into a percentage of people in the statistic that very few people achieve because most people can’t be that consistent!
It doesn’t even take genius, or being a genetic freak, or a special individual, just putting in the work, so simple yet so few can.
Take, for example, Joe Rogan. His podcast has millions of views on different platforms such as YouTube and Spotify, and he has done hundreds of interviews with multiple guests from all types of backgrounds.
So what was his secret? Paid promotion? Connections? The best editing in the world?
I would say it was the 13 years of uninterrupted interviews for his podcast.
It is just putting in the work.
Granted, it’s important to consider after the “100” if it is something you enjoy.
There are thousands of things you could be doing, so go for those. The point is to keep putting in the work after you find them.
It would be wise to do “The Law of 100 Months” for any great endeavors in life such as learning, improving your health, taking care of yourself, being the best at your work, building a business, etc.
I wish you the best in any new endeavor you decide to explore.
Remember to reach your hundred rep 😉