Progress accumulates invisibly beneath the surface before suddenly becoming visible, like ice melting at 32 degrees.
You write 500 words daily for three months with no visible results—just scattered notes and bad drafts. Then suddenly in month four, the writing sharpens, ideas connect, and you finish three publishable essays. The breakthrough came from 90 days of invisible skill-building.
All worthwhile pursuits have a plateau of latent potential, when sometimes you're just doing the wrong thing and need to change course rather than persist.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Focus on the process (systems) that leads to results rather than the results themselves (goals) for sustainable progress.
The gap between expected linear progress and actual delayed results where most habits die before paying off.
Small habits compound over time like interest, with tiny improvements accumulating into remarkable results.
Focus on the process (systems) that leads to results rather than the results themselves (goals) for sustainable progress.
Peak motivation occurs when working on tasks right at the edge of your current abilities—not too hard, not too easy.
The gap between expected linear progress and actual delayed results where most habits die before paying off.