Controlling the Creep by Jim Stovall

Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

You may have heard it said that something imagined in one generation can be considered possible in the next generation and can become a reality in the third generation. I would define this as culture creep, and it can be either good or bad. My late, great friend and colleague Paul Harvey often said, “Not all that we call progress is progress.” Everything that is new is not necessarily new and improved. We need to be aware of and control this type of creep in our own personal and professional lives. 

When you consider someone who is guilty of a horrible crime and is in prison today, it is invariably a fact that they didn’t just wake up one day and decide to commit a horrible crime. It’s likely that, at one point, they considered lowering their standards, and then they probably committed a less severe infraction. Over time they found it somehow acceptable to commit a major crime.  

Significant changes in our lives rarely come instantly. They originate from imagining the possibilities and accepting small changes that inevitably result in a new reality. We all have standards that we live by. Some people leave it to organizations or governments to establish rules and laws, but the more enlightened among us establish our own standards that hopefully serve us as we pursue our personal and professional goals.  

I have a number of family members, friends, and colleagues whom I greatly respect. Over time, I have observed their positive standards and have implemented some of them into my own life. I know an individual who has decided that if they’re going out for a big meal and want to enjoy dessert one evening, they commit to doing extra during their workout for that day. I know a businessperson who has a standard involving spending extra time with his family after being out of town for a lengthy business trip.  

The most successful people I know have standards they have reduced to a morning routine or a series of activities they perform during the day. My own mornings involve exercise, meditation, study, and mapping out the activities for my day. This standard routine puts me in the best position to succeed throughout the day and move toward my goals. 

The most successful people I know have standards they have reduced to a morning routine or a series of activities they perform during the day.  

If there’s something in your life you want to improve upon, consider establishing a standard that will control your behavior and let your behavior manage your results. 

As you go through your day today, set your own standards before someone else is forced to set them for you. 

 Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a New York Times bestselling author of many books, including the book-turned-major-motion-picture The Ultimate Gift. His latest book, coauthored with Dr. Greg S. Reid, is Passport to Success: Experience Next Level Living. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor).