Success path rarely travels a straight line
Photos: What paths to success actually look like
Most people falsely think of progress as linear, a steady journey up a 45-degree incline over time and effort, but that's usually not the case.
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Photos: What paths to success actually look like
LINEAR – Improvement is steady. This path is not as common as people think.
Relevant to:
* lifelong habits (such as meditation)
* skill-based hobbies (such as gardening)
* writing
* wisdom
* chess
Relevant to:
* lifelong habits (such as meditation)
* skill-based hobbies (such as gardening)
* writing
* wisdom
* chess
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Photos: What paths to success actually look like
CLASSIC EXPONENTIAL – Work more now for later pay-off. This requires resilience, endurance and patience.
Relevant to:
* starting a business
* most careers, especially academia and craftsmanship
* wealth accumulation
* baseball
* karate (see "The Karate Kid")
* raising a building
* the audience for this column
Relevant to:
* starting a business
* most careers, especially academia and craftsmanship
* wealth accumulation
* baseball
* karate (see "The Karate Kid")
* raising a building
* the audience for this column
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Photos: What paths to success actually look like
CLASSIC LOGARITHMIC – As you get better, the harder it becomes to continue improving even with dedication.
Relevant to:
* weight loss
* learning a new mental skill (such as language)
* work-specific task
* soccer
* running
* Tiger Woods' golf career
Relevant to:
* weight loss
* learning a new mental skill (such as language)
* work-specific task
* soccer
* running
* Tiger Woods' golf career
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