Imagine going to the beach and taking handfuls of sand to pile up as you sit there. Your goal is to make the pile as high as possible; however, as you continue to add sand, it begins to cascade downward, followed by an avalanche.
In similar fashion, every action you take is like that handful of sand, whether it’s building or deepening relationships, improving investments, or training your dog. Consistent action is like piling grains of sand until you create a cascade. Growth is never linear.
Scientists at MIT decided to determine how and when the cascade effect on sand takes place. Like you on the beach, they began to pile grains of sand and monitor and record the point at which the cascade occurred. The results varied wildly. At times, the cascade occurred early in the experiment; at other times, it only occurred after tens of thousands of grains of sand. Their conclusion: The cascade is inevitable but could not be predicted. They could not determine how many grains of sand it would take until a cascade happened.
Likening this to your business and your efforts in any realm, the cascade will happen. The question is whether you have the persistence to stay in the conversation. Do you have the structure you need to continue? Where are you piling those grains of sand? Consistent activity drives consistent production. Consistent production keeps advisors sane. Eventually you will meet the person who provides the cascade effect on your business or your workout efforts, your diet goal, etc. The cascade effect will always and inevitably happen.
One of our clients finally committed to making appointment after appointment and sticking to that structure. And boom! He got a two-million-dollar referral. He was consistent in his effort. And now more opportunities are coming his way. Yes, sometimes, like a tiny grain of sand, it takes time and effort. However, you never know how much time and how much effort are needed. The cascade can happen at 12 grains of sand or it might happen at 12,466.
Success always comes down to repetition. The more you involve yourself with A people and A activities in A places, the greater the probability stack you’ll pile the next grain of sand and the one after that.
Putting it another way, you have to pay for the party before you can get into the party. You have to be thankful for God’s favor before the favor is bestowed. When you’re already thankful for what you have now, it’s much easier to be given more. And remember that in conjunction with that to whom much is given, much is expected.
Ultimately, everything works. It’s up to you to choose what you want to work for you. And when it’s with A people, places and activities, it’s always more enjoyable. When it’s enjoyable, it’s always easier to repeat. Shit works when you execute it.
Keep piling because the cascade is going to happen.
