Just Crazy Enough
“He’s crazy.” You know who. How often have you used that expression to describe a friend, co-worker, or perfect stranger who has done something completely crazy. It’s everywhere—and the terrific thing about “crazy” is that it is available in so many flavors. There’s the guy who routinely runs more than 3,000 miles a year. Do that math. That’s more than eight (8!) miles a day. Every day. Ludicrous. Or how about the friend that read 138 books last year; 176 the year before (do that math—a book every other day). Nuts. Or a coworker who writes three positive items in a journal from the previous day; every day. Wow. That’s crazy. Yet a part of you says, “I wish I could.”
Well you could.
How? Do you stop at a red light? Yep. Every time. And you attended that meeting, even though you didn’t want to, didn’t you? How do you do those things but not the “crazy” things? Simple: They’re important enough to do.
There are always barriers to completing any commitment (crazy or not), yet each time you completed something, you’ve decided the barriers were surmountable because there was (potentially) greater progress towards some end or (potentially) unwanted consequences if you didn’t. But how does something “crazy” become important enough to do? Why. No, not why the question. Why the statement. That is, there is a known “why.” A purpose. A reason. A goal. And, more importantly, a commitment to achieving it.
It’s important enough to do.
Running eight miles a day is important when it is tied to (and fulfills/satisfies) the bigger purpose or goal. In this case, the goal may be to exceed last year’s mileage. Or maybe it’s the necessary training to complete an ultra marathon. How about reading 176 books? Possibly a commitment to learning or growth. Writing in a journal every day? Maybe a mindfulness or gratitude exercise. The point? The actions support a larger purpose; a purpose that is important, albeit sometimes “crazy.”
But how can you achieve something “crazy”?
Determine what is important. Make the list of what you want to accomplish—the outcome. Everything cannot be important. How many outcomes? Limit your list to 3-4 items per quarter. Any more than a few and everything becomes important (which means nothing is). Wanna do some giant “crazy”? Divide that into quarterly milestones.
Identify the actions. What actions have the best chance of creating the desired outcome? Write those down; make a plan with timelines. “What” news to be done “By When.” Don’t get hung up on format—you don’t need a sophisticated app to track progress. A journal and pencil will do. Excel, if you’re inclined.
Share your purpose and share your plan. Life is a “we” sport, not a “me” sport. Find the people who can hold you accountable; coach you; support you.
Review frequently. At least quarterly. This is not “set and forget.” That’s a recipe for… nothing.
Adjust as necessary. The runner whose goal is to complete a marathon plans 16 weeks of steady training. But maybe the planned morning runs just don’t work. The actions will change—guaranteed. Keep the goal/purpose in mind and adjust.
Celebrate milestones. First 10 books of the year? First full week of journaling? Acknowledge the achievement with those who are holding you accountable (see #3). Big goals often take big commitments and long time frames. Acknowledge and share those interim victories.
And finally: Find the next “crazy.” Make finding the next crazy a habit. Before you know it, you’ve changed the world; or at least your crazy little part of it.
