“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” —Albert Einstein
We do it all the time without even realizing it, it’s called habit and Einstein referred to it as insanity; doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. So, when it really matters, how do we prevent ourselves from falling into habit? How do we get results?
1. Plan
The first step is planning. When we stop to make a plan we are consciously putting the brakes on habit. Planning forces us to pause and think.
2. Evaluate
We are not done once we have made our plan and put it into action. Now it is time to evaluate. What were we trying to accomplish? Are we succeeding or failing?
3. Learn
Whether our plan worked out to be a great success or turned into a huge failure, there is always something we can learn. This is the turning point! What can you learn?
4. Apply
Now, here is the final step, the actual key to getting results, the culmination of the other three steps. APPLY what you have learned. It’s in the continual learning and applying of those lessons that you get real results.
Get Results
Stop doing the same thing over and over again. Make a plan. Evaluate the results. Learn from both successes and failures. And then, apply what you learn. Stop the habit cycle and start getting results.