Follow Through

I’m not a golfer. But I know enough about physics to realize that every swing of the club involves 4 phases: alignment, wind up, down swing, follow through. When we face a challenge or a large task, the first three come naturally. But after we’ve struck the metaphorical ball, we often fail to follow through.

Think about the last homework assignment you submitted. What did you do the moment after you pressed “submit”? Think about the last exam you took. What did you do the moment after you handed it in? Think about the last course you completed. What did you do the day after the final?

The two most common answers are:

• “Celebrate by relaxing.”
• “Move on to the next thing on the list.”

Sadly, our educational system does very little to encourage (or hold students responsible for) the follow through.

Fifteen minutes more on an assignment, a half hour after an exam, or a day of reflection after a course could be a game changer for you. Imagine the growth you’d experience if you took the time to write down answers to these questions:

1. What worked?
2. What didn’t?
3. Why was this part so difficult for me?
4. What can I change about my process to achieve more with less effort in the future?

I just finished teaching the first-ever Intentional Academy 7-week course.

That means I am 3/4 of the way done. Now it’s time to follow through, or else lose the valuable growth. It’s not time to put my feet up yet.

Want to join a community of people committed to mastering the entire process? The you should sign up for the Intentional Academy. It’s free using the form on this page!