In a brilliant cartoon by Bill Watterson (I should not have used that word because they are all “brilliant”), Calvin is hurtling downhill with Hobbes – his imaginary live tiger – tucked in behind when he makes the amazing discovery: “I’ve found the secret to happiness!” he exclaims.
“Forward motion!”

It is a simple concept that any person in a leadership position must display, for it is an attribute that all people prize and aspire to.

In a recent experiment, a Chicago professor asked a large group of volunteer students to write out a questionnaire. Upon completion, they were told to wait 15 minutes before handing it in, or they could drop it into a box across campus – about 15 minutes away. Rather than sit and waste time, they chose, one by one, to walk.

In any project or enterprise (business, government, educational), the creation of tasks that give forward momentum is not only healthy, but critical to successful outcomes. As important to the life of a project is to understand that the project is a living thing, propelled by our own enthusiasm; and once the enthusiasm and drive wanes, so too does the project, and it is good to know there is a life cycle to everything we undertake.

There are four elements that drive a business to success: time, money, energy and competence. In setting goals, it is essential to understand that targets should be set to be fulfilled before any one of the four elements expires.

Donald Trump, recounting the best advice he ever was given, looked up to his father – a real estate developer – who taught him to plan with a simple guideline: “Get in. Get going. Get done. Get out.”

The next project will again give you forward motion.