I ran track in high school, and my favorite event was the 400-meter dash. Just one time around the track, the race was long enough to set a pace but short enough that it didn’t feel like a slog. (Usually.)
A strong start, however, was crucial.
In the few years (ok, decades) since graduating from high school and completing my track career, I’ve realized the importance of a strong start in other areas, too. Front-loading has thus become a part of my achievement practice.
What Is Front-Loading? How Does It Help?
Imagine it’s the start of the year and you set a goal to earn $120,000 in revenue.
Many people would look at this and say, “OK, so I need to bring in $10,000 per month,” make their plans accordingly, and leave it at that.
But what about the three weeks you’ll be out of the office in the fall for conferences and vacations?
What about that period in the summer when your industry tends to go silent for a month?
And what about the typical slumps that accompany nearly any large goal or project?
Dictionary.com defines front-loading as ‘expending maximum effort as early as possible.’ In a race, this might mean taking advantage of the adrenaline you naturally feel at the starting line and using it to pull ahead of the pack.
Similarly, when you begin a large project or bold goal, you’re likely energized at the onset. Instead of a flat $10,000/month in the earlier example, what if you shoot for $13,000 the first month? Or even $15,000? You can leverage your early energy, plus place yourself ahead of the game to account for those mid-year interruptions.
In addition, small, early wins build momentum and motivate us when the going gets tough.
Where To Experiment With Front-Loading
You can play with this concept just about anywhere, such as:
* Large goals
* Long-term projects
* Your week
(Imagine getting your top priorities for the week accomplished on Monday and Tuesday. Everything else is icing on the cake!)
Give It A Go!
A fine line can exist, of course, between effective front-loading and wearing yourself out too soon. For this reason, I recommend mapping out your full action plan in advance so you can still start strong and also pace accordingly. A coach can also provide the perspective and accountability to help you along the way.
On what project are you about to embark? How might you front-load it to give yourself that strong start?
Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, is the Practical + Purposeful Coach for Achievers! Join our email community for weekly coaching tips, free resources, and more!