Kaizen–Slow Down

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Tracy Seekins

Kaizen = continuous improvement through baby steps

I learned about this concept today while listening to a free recording of Marci Shimoff that I gained access to because of a new teleseminar series I signed up for.

I have decided that I not only NEED this concept but I’m going to use the word Kaizen as my own little mantra.

People who know me know that I have a habit of getting very excited about things and then trying to do to much at once. I then become overwhelmed and I shut down completely.

My newest kick lately is that I want to fix everything and help everyone instantly. I so very much want people to be happier and feel better that I often end up expecting too much of myself and of others. I need to slow down. My problem is someone might ask about a problem or issue in their life and they see it as THE whole problem. What they see as the disease I see as only a symptom. I want to treat the disease and I tend to forget that sometimes you have to treat the symptoms before the disease. When I catch myself doing this, and believe me I AM aware of it, I am going to say to myself kaizen.

What it means is as long as there is progress, even if it is in baby steps, it is still progress. This can help me from becoming overwhelmed and disappointed in myself. It can also help keep me from overwhelming others.

What I also want to put forth is this. Have you not tried something new in your life because you are afraid you can’t stick with it? Is there something that would be helpful to you or good for you that you are afraid to do because it feels like to much? Kaizen.

What I mean is this. Maybe you KNOW you should be doing more exercise, most of us should, but you don’t feel like you would stick with it. Kaizen – baby steps. Try taking a walk every day down your driveway and back. Try taking your clothes to the washing machine one piece at a time. Try something new but don’t make it a 5 mile run until you are ready for that. Start small and build. Do the new thing for 2 – 3 weeks before adding more to it. Then add more in small doses until you reach the goal you’d like to get to.

Make continuous improvement but do it slowly. Why overwhelm yourself and end up giving up? That doesn’t help anyone.

So my new mantra is Kaizen!