How to Achieve Long-Term Success with Moment-to-Moment Greatness
Success is a long game -- anyone who’s been working towards a dream knows this.
But this long-term outlook isn’t always very encouraging, especially when you’re entrenched in challenges, which can leave you feeling disoriented and discouraged to take any real meaningful action.
However, I’ve found a much simpler, modified perspective that has completely transformed the way I live and work towards my goals. And it all has to do with finding greatness in the moment.
Greatness is based upon the actions that you take moment by moment. Every time you choose to do the things required to be great you are great in that moment.– Brian Moran
In The 12 Week Year, authors Brian Moran and Michael Lennington walk readers through their proven step-by-step process to getting more done.
At first, the book seems to outline a productivity/achievement system, albeit a highly effective one (and my personal favorite). But over time, the content goes into far more than the 12-week system -- it expands into the real principles and strategies that lead to achievement in anything.
I’ve taken a lot from reading it. A lot more than what I got from most productivity-centric books I’ve read. However, one bit of wisdom has stood out as far more valuable to me than anything else:
Greatness isn't results, or awards, or championships. Those things are the evidence of your greatness. The reality is that greatness is based upon the actions that you take moment by moment. Every time you choose to do the things required to be great you are great in that moment.– Brian Moran
Moran and Lennington explain that greatness is simply a series of moments in which we perform at our best strung together. By seeking to do our best every minute of every day and then piecing together a week, month, year, and a decade in this way, we’re able to reap the rewards of the greatness we displayed over time.
While, to the outside world, success often seems to happen overnight, those who put in the work always remark on the contrary -- that success was found in the quiet moments of practice, pushing themselves to the limit each and every day. This same sentiment is echoed in many high performers, including professional athletes such as Usain Bolt.
Focus on finding greatness in each moment
Realizing our dreams and goals does ultimately require a long-term vision, but that can often be discouraging when we reflect on just how much we need to accomplish to reach our goal.
However, by shifting our mindset to this moment-to-moment approach, we can simplify the process and utilize a more dependable path.
Here’s a practical approach that combines several best-practices for maximizing productivity and performance:
- Find greatness in each moment: Don’t worry about maximizing your performance all day long, just pick one or two windows of about an hour or two where you seek to maximize your performance and then grow from there.
- Track your progress and performance: Track your performance each week and compare it to the previous week. How did you do? This ensures you’re making progress each week.
- Seek to go to bed each day thinking “I’ve done my best” (and accepting nothing else): Hold firm to your resolution to be at your best during those short windows of time. Find greatness in those moments and don’t let yourself go to sleep at night without knowing you did your best.
By using this process to maximize the effectiveness of this moment-to-moment mindset, you’ll simplify the path to realizing your dreams. It won’t be any easier, but you won’t face disorientation and discouragement when looking at the road ahead.
You’ll know exactly what you need to do: find greatness in this moment and worry about nothing else.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.