Minor accomplishments vs. Major Accomplishments – Which is Better?
At first glance, this is an easy question. One would think that accomplishing something major is always better than accomplishing something minor. This is true at the surface level, however it’s not so true when you dig deeper.
A research study by psychologist David Niven shows that “life satisfaction is 22 percent more likely for those with a steady stream of minor accomplishments than those who express interest only in major accomplishments.”
The fact is the moment of accomplishment only last for a few minutes at best. It doesn’t matter if it’s a major or minor accomplishment. So if you only focus on counting the major accomplishments, your entire life will boil down to only a few big moments that matter. This is not a healthy approach.
Instead, creating a steady stream of minor accomplishments must be your focus. When you focus on a steady stream of minor accomplishments your focus is always close to the present. What’s more, it’s in the present where preparation, practice, and breaking down difficult goals into small manageable goals happens.
Focusing on a steady stream of minor accomplishments doesn’t mean you won’t achieve major accomplishments either. It just means that your major accomplishments become the culmination of your minor accomplishments.