Massive Goals

The Benefits of Hyperdrive

The Millennium Falcon is a space ship owned by Han Solo in the Star Wars movies.  It is renowned for its speed, and its Captain claims that it is good for 0.5 past light speed (whatever that means).  Of course that is only when its Hyperdrive is working.  The Hyperdrive unit allows a ship like this to travel at faster-than-light speeds for relatively short periods of time.  Short bursts of speed aren’t that impressive until you realise that if you are travelling that fast, you can make massive progress in even this brief period.  That is what gives the Millennium Falcon its edge.  The ability to jump to an amazing speed via Hyperdrive and end up half way down the Galaxy, where it returns to more conventional speeds for the rest of the journey.

The most efficient form of motion is constant velocity.  If you are driving a car, walking, riding a bike or swimming, you get more distance for the energy you burn by going at a steady speed.  This is exactly the same when we are heading towards a Life Goal.  Constant progress will get us there in a more efficient way than sporadic fits and starts of effort.  However there are times when a little Hyperdrive motivation will do wonders for our progress.

Hyperdrive, in a Star Wars sense, or a Life Goal sense is characterised by 5 things:

1. It is ridiculously fast and powerful - Using Hyperdrive concepts, we can make massive progress in just days, hours or even minutes.  What would usually take serious commitment and persistence happens very quickly.  In this way it becomes much easier to complete the tasks because progress comes so fast.
2. It is risky - There is always an element of risk in progressing so fast.  There is the chance that you will be slightly off in your heading and at that speed you can very quickly end up way off course.  Also putting so much energy into such a short period of time puts you at risk of premature burnout.  Will you have what it takes to complete the rest of the action?
3. It is surprising and unconventional - In a competitive setting, Hyperdrive concepts can bring big benefits simply because they are not expected.  In a criterium cycling race, to gain a lap on the main pack is a massive advantage.  To pick up that lap at the very beginning may be so surprising that you catch the other cyclists sleeping.  Sometimes the only way to break away from the competition is to catch them by surprise.
4. It is not sustainable - While Hyperdrive will get you somewhere fast, it is not possible to continue at that pace for very long.  It is useful for short bursts of massive progress, but very quickly the pace must return to more sustainable speeds.  Anyone who expects to consistently perform at hyperdrive speeds is mistaken.  By definition, Hyperdrive is way above normal sustainable velocity.
5. It can be a lot of fun - Watching yourself eating up the challenge can be amazingly motivating.  Fast progress is fun progress and this should not be overlooked from a self confidence point of view.  For the time that you are able to sustain Hyperdrive speeds, you will experience the excitement and even the adrenalin rush of making a massive leap towards your goal.  The feelings can become addictive, however we have to remember that this pace is not sustainable.

How can we Jump to Hyperspace to get to our goals?

• Focus clearly on your destination - To jump to Hyperspace without a clear view of your target is asking for trouble.  In the flurry of action you could easily progress at phenomenal speeds in precisely the wrong direction.  Before you start, you have to have a crystal clear image in your mind of what success will be like.  This will guide you towards achieving it no matter how frantic the pace becomes.
• Clear the decks in readiness - In recognition that there is little time to spare when you are progressing at Hyperspace speeds, it is essential to streamline things in advance.  Clear off your physical and electronic desk tops.  Empty some things from your calendar.  Back off a little on some less important tasks.  Do anything that you can, in advance, to aid your hyperspace efforts and stop you from being distracted.
• Kick off - The first kick of progress is most important.  After focusing your mind on your destination, it is essential to build momentum as quickly as possible.  Do this by putting in a foundation session of 100% effort to get you going.  Make this first effort a spectacular achievement (in your own eyes) and you will have begun a snowball of motivation and progress.  Start off by choosing one particular action and nailing it as quickly and decisively as possible.  Now you are really flying.
• Put everything you have into it - Don’t hold back.  Don’t keep energy in reserve.  The whole point of Hyperdrive is that you don’t have to pace yourself.  You are deliberately burning up energy at a rate that you can’t maintain over the long run.  Remember that it won’t last long so make the most of your speed while it lasts.
• Maximize the cruise effect - When you have blasted along at hyperspeed for as long as possible you will really be moving.  Don’t put on the brakes.  Make the most of your momentum by cruising back to normal speeds.  In the same way that when you ride a skateboard down a hill, you can end up half way up the next hill on pure momentum, wring the very last drop out of your hyperdrive speed by coasting back to normal speeds. 
• Don’t drop back below normal speed - As soon as you have reached a more sustainable velocity, get back to work.  Rather than slipping into inaction after your exhausting efforts, it is important to continue your progress at this much more conservative and efficient pace.  While this won’t be as exciting or exhilarating, your previous hyperdrive efforts will have jumped you forward to a totally new position on your progress time line.  This can keep your motivation high and your resolve to see the goal through intact.

My own Super Kanji Challenge. 

I have been putting this Hyperdrive concept into action with my own study of Japanese Kanji.  I have deliberately set a ridiculously high pace for achieving my goals.  I realise that this is an unsustainable pace for the long term, but if I can just complete 31 days, then I will have nailed it.  There is no way that I could keep the pace going for long without my brain exploding, but I can hang in there in Hyperdrive mode for just a month.

What will be your next Hyperdrive challenge?  What can you achieve by a short, extreme Hyperdrive blast?

Thanks

Tom