“At first, I am giving energy to the creation, but later the creation is giving energy to me.” – Robert Fritz
Momentum is defined as a mass or energy in motion. Learning to use momentum is critical to creating what you want. Many people with good ideas can’t bring them to fruition because they don’t understand momentum. You have to learn to take the next step toward your goal even if you can’t see the steps. This is the leap of faith you must take to get started.
One spring, I signed up for sailing classes. I wanted my captain’s license and became fascinated by the dynamics of sailing. There are many similarities between sailing and creating. You have a starting point and you have a destination and you have to use the forces at play to get you where you want to go. The route is never a beeline. It’s a zigzag.
Sailors learn very early on that it’s much easier to adjust course while moving – even when sailing in the wrong direction. Stopping makes it very difficult to get the boat going again. So, sailors use their sails, the wind and rudder to zigzag to their destination. The sailing term for this is tacking.
Creating, like sailing, is about starting and constantly adjusting course as you head toward your goal. You know your destination, but you have to be flexible in how you’re going to reach it. You may start going one way and end up going another. You might use conventional steps or unconventional steps to get there.
Depending on the show we have coming up, we may have several requests from the client. Sometimes it can make rehearsals overwhelming. My job as leader is to get the creative ball rolling, and I do that by taking small steps and developing momentum. Maybe we learn one verse and the chorus, and then move on to the next section. Sometimes we start rehearsing the easiest song first to get us moving. These are examples of using momentum to accomplish our goals. Once it builds, there’s no telling who in the group will come up with a new idea to propel us further or how exactly we’re going to arrive at the result we want. Frankly, I don’t want to know. I love watching the process unfold. Using momentum is a learned skill that will help you achieve more over time.
A key to developing momentum in the beginning is to take baby steps that are easy to take. This will give you some wind in your sails. Never underestimate the power of the small first step.
Hope you enjoyed these excerpts from chapter 12 of Dennis’ book. Interested in learning more? Visit amazon to obtain your copy of “Rock ‘n’ Roll, Martial Arts & God: Tips on Success From the Masters.”
