the compound effect summary & review

“Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon…must inevitably come to pass!”

As someone that is obsessed with personal development, most of the content that I consume through books, my own research, and videos are all self-improvement related.

And that is how I consistently came across the book - ‘The Compound Effect’. I never invested in it because I had so many books sitting on my shelf that I still had to go through.

However, after hearing the title of the book for the 500th time my curiosity to find out what it was about inevitably grew.

I went on Google to search for this book’s preview, but instead I bumped into a free PDF of ‘The Compound Effect’….

Next thing you know, I finished reading the whole book in less than a week!

Synopsis

‘The Compound Effect’ is written by Darren Hardy and it was published in 2010. This book explains how our daily rituals (no matter how small) end up creating our destiny, and how we can change that to live a more abundant life.

He drops some incredible gems in all 6 chapters of this book (as you will see below). Make sure you continue reading, you won’t regret it!

He explains everything in simple terms, keeps it to the point, and has realistic strategies for everyone to implement. The book is less than 200 pages!

He starts off by explaining what the compound effect is and how it affects our lives. Then the choices we make, and how we can make better ones.

Most of our habits are executed unconsciously. He explains them and has strategies for how we can change them, but most importantly how we can become aware of them.

He then explains how implementing our habits in a routine build momentum, and why that is important.

The fifth chapter is about influences and how they impact us. And lastly, acceleration – how doing a bit more multiplies results.

Throughout the book he continues to explain every point he makes with numerous stories and his own personal examples.

As a former publisher of SUCCESS magazine, he also includes bits of interviews he had with well-known people such as Tony Robbins and mentions those that have had a profound impact on his own or other people’s lives such as, Steve Jobs, Oprah, and Jim Rohn.

After every chapter, he has a summary of actions page. These are simple worksheets that you can take note of or print and complete in your own time.

I’m very excited to go through the chapters with you, I am certain that this will benefit you!

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Compound Effect In Action

“Small, smart choices + consistency + time = radical difference.”

In this chapter Darren Hardy explains the compound effect, the importance of hard work, and discipline.

He writes some examples and shares stories about how small choices – when they become consistent habits – have an immense impact on our lives.

The small choices he mentions are indeed very small choices. They’re the type of choices that seem like they are inconsequential but are still significant, especially over time.

This is the formula he put together:

“Small, smart choices + consistency + time = radical difference.”

The stories he shares in this chapter are very eye-opening.

The story of Brad and his two friends was the one that stuck with me, but I’ll only summarise Brad’s story to help you understand the compound effect.

Brad decides to make small changes to “enjoy” life a bit more. He gets a new TV, puts a bar in his family room (adding one more drink to his diet per week), and cooks some unhealthy food from recipes he learnt from the Food Channel.

He enjoys his own cooking and feels that the desserts that he makes add value because his family also enjoy them, so he continues to cook.

He eats more than his own share but not a noticeable amount.

For many months, there is no apparent change with Brad. But by the end of 31 months, the change is shocking. Brad is fat.

Incomes the ripple effect…

The ripple effect explains how something little can affect all areas of life including relationships.

Due to Brad’s habit of eating a bit more, watching TV, and the extra calories he carries because of his alcohol intake he starts to feel sluggish and becomes unproductive at work.

His boss evidently shows him that he’s not happy with him causing Brad to be more stressed.

The drop in his energy level stops him from taking walks with his wife like he used to. She takes this personally and feels neglected.

Because of his own unhappiness, he starts to find faults with everyone including his wife. He stops complimenting her and because of his own low confidence he becomes less affectionate.

To escape from reality, he watches more TV in the evenings. His wife is unhappy and uses her energy for work and goes out with her friends more often for companionship.

Brad blames his wife for everything rather than trying to figure out why he’s been in such a funk.

The small changes that seemed so insignificant ending up changing his work life and marriage.

This is the compound effect!

For some time you won’t see any changes but once the change kicks in, it will kick you hard.

The secret to success is the implementation of good choices that could become habits, discipline, and consistent but efficient hard work.

This is the strong work ethic that has been forgotten by our generation. Hardly anyone values it anymore.

People stop doing what they did to reach their goals and then question why everything was taken away from them.

Due to social media, technology, and fast-food services, everything is about instant gratification.

Wanting something instantly will not give long term success. Forget about it.

Hard work is only the real way to get what you desire. Along with hard work comes feelings of loneliness, disappointment, and frustration.

It’s definitely not easy.

But how bad do you want it?

Chapter 2: Choices

“No matter what has happened to you, take complete responsibility for it – good, or bad, victory or defeat. Own it.”

This chapter is about becoming aware of the choices we make and how to make decisions that support the expansion of life.

Life is based on the choices we make. Period. As Darren Hardy says, “your life is the product of your moment-to-moment choices.”

What we choose to do in every moment builds up the big picture.

Sounds about true, no?

Many people will say that they control their life (at least to a large extent) but still don’t take full ownership.

Pointing fingers at others for what they’re not doing and blaming others for what has happened to us won’t allow real progression.

Many of us are still sleepwalking through life.

The reason that choices are so important is because they have the potential to become habits. You can decide not to choose and flow with life – no vision, not anything.

You might not get very far but the choice is yours.

Darren continues to explain that choices are often shaped by our culture and upbringing. This is how they become unconscious.

We don’t even realise what we are choosing to do or not to do.

We see big mistakes as threats to our life but actually for most of us it’s the small, frequent and seemingly inconsequential choices that are a concern.

We are all self-made. You have to be willing to give 100% in relationships with no expectation of receiving anything back.

You can choose how to respond to something that has happened to you – negative or positive.

You have the power.

No one just gets lucky. It takes a lot of work behind the scenes for results to show up.

Darren’s formula for getting lucky:

“Preparation (personal growth) + attitude (belief/mindset) + opportunity (a good thing coming your way) + action (doing something about it) = luck.”

Preparation – improving your skills, knowledge, expertise, relationships, and resources – you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Attitude – “a matter of seeing situations, conversations, and circumstances as fortuitous. You cannot see what you don’t look for, and you cannot look for what you don’t believe in.”
Opportunity – shows up in its own accord (although you can make your own luck).
Action – take charge.

Start tracking.

What do you want? What do you want to improve? Think about what you can do to get there.

If you want to lose weight for instance, then note down every single thing you eat. You can do this by carrying a notebook or by jotting it in your phone.

Write down the date, then keep jotting it down.

Tracking helps you to become aware of the decisions you make associated with your goal – right and wrong but especially the small steps.

Beware of neglecting small steps.

Making small changes will compound. There will be no immediate results. No one will notice anything, and no one will applaud you.

“It’s the littlest disciplines that pay off over time, the effort and preparation for the great triumph that happened when no one was looking. And yet the results are exceptional.”

You don’t have to jump in and do everything at once.

Track only one habit for a week, preferably the one that has the greatest control over you.

Then 3 weeks.

Once you start seeing the results, you will automatically find ways in which you can do better.

Starting small but ending up with big results.

Chapter 3: Habits

“We are what we repeatedly do.”

This chapter is about breaking and making habits.

We are creatures of habit. Once habits become automatic, we don’t have to think about them.

That’s a good thing because it keeps us sane.

Imagine having to think about brushing your teeth every morning, or driving etc.

However, many of us are living on autopilot. 95% of everything we feel, think, do and achieve is a result of a learned habit!

To become what you desire or to achieve something you have to change your habits because bad ones will compound to disaster.

Personally I think the ‘why-power’ part of the book is the most important.

Why-power is about having a reason for getting to where you want to be or being what you want to be.

But this reason has to be so strong that there is no way that you can get comfortable or fall back into your old ways.

This is a reason that should drive you through emotional walls that you will come across, the hard work, and failures.

Ensure that you seek fulfilment first. The reason why some successful people are unhappy is because they don’t feel fulfilled with what they do.

Finding fulfilment is about doing something that aligns with your values and purpose. Materialistic and monetary success does not mean you will be happy.

Your core values come from what you stand for and who you are.

Know your values first so that what you do is not conflicting and unsatisfying.

My second favourite part of this book is about finding your fight.

Darren points out that love and hate are both powerfully moving forces. You can be motivated by something you want or don’t want.

I have many reasons for my desires, and I have picked out things that add fuel to my fire. Trust me on this it works.

In some circumstances it can be good to hate – hate disease, injustice, ignorance, complacency etc.

You might want to prove someone wrong. Maybe you don’t want to settle for a mediocre life that everyone expects you to live.

Having an enemy can ignite fire.

“Rather than letting past hurtful experiences sap our energy and sabotage our success, we can use them to fuel positive, constructive change.”

So, let’s start with your goals. Again, what do you want? What dreams or destination do you desire?

You have to know what you want so you can go towards it.

When you instruct your brain to look for the things you want, you will begin to see them.

For example, if you think about a yellow car you will start to notice them on the streets. Its not that these yellow cars weren’t there before or that there are more now.

You notice the yellow cars now because you started to look for them. This is how opportunities come.

You’ll only be able to act on them if you start to look a bit closer.

Make sure you have goals for every aspect of your life. If you have great wealth but no health or no one to share it with, you’ll still be unhappy.

Set a goal for your business, finances, health and wellbeing, spirituality, family and relationships and lifestyle.

To achieve anything that is more than what you already have. You also have to become better.

If you want to attract a partner into your life, you can write with detail about all the things your partner should consist or look like or even come from.

But you also need to match up to them. If you want them to be confident or have certain beliefs and values, you also need to align to that.

Darren’s goals formula:

“You – choice (decision) + behaviour (action) + habit (repeated action) + compounded (time) = goals.”

Habits show who you are. It’s not about what you say its about what you do.

5 strategies for eliminating bad habits:

1) Identify triggers - Note the 4 W’s (who, what, where and when). When do you execute your habit? Are you with someone particular that triggers it? Is there a certain time?

2) Clean house – remove everything from your space that leads to your bad habit e.g., get rid of the food you shouldn’t be eating.

3) Swap it- can you alter your bad habits, replace them or drop them?

4) Ease in – take small steps (maybe reduce chocolate to once a week, once a month and then drop it completely).

5) Jump in – It may be easier to say goodbye to all bad habits at once because not everyone is wired that way, but you need to find what works well for you.

Sometimes the anticipation of doing something is actually worse than doing it.

You don’t have to cut out every bad habit. But if you choose to have/do something in moderation then it’s a good idea to check if it has control over you.

Run a vice check. Every 3 months choose something you have in moderation and try to abstain from it for 30 days.

If you can do it easily, you’re good to continue in moderation. But if it’s difficult. Its time to say goodbye.

6 techniques for installing good habits:

1) Set yourself up to succeed- set up the discipline for new habit so you don’t fall into it e.g. if you know that you will feel like you want to snack on something at a certain time, stock up your desk with healthy alternatives.

2) Think addition, not subtraction – instead of thinking about what you are depriving yourself of, think about what you’re having instead.

3) Public display of accountability – tell people about your new habit so they can hold you accountable.

4) Find a success buddy – meet or speak to a certain person regularly e.g. weekly about your wins or losses and how you’re doing with your new habit, how you feel etc. Do it for each other as a way to motivate and ensure that you both reach your goals.

5) Competition & camaraderie – some friendly competitiveness to ensure you keep to your goal.

6) Celebrate – reward yourself for overcoming milestones. Maybe go for a walk, listen to music, read something for fun, book a dinner etc.

When achieving something is difficult. That means it’s a good thing. That means many people will give up and won’t do it. That’s great. That means you will stand out.

Be patient. It will take time.

Chapter 4: Momentum

“You get up. You do it – no argument.”

This chapter is about having a routine that will build momentum.

People who get into a successful rhythm stay succeeding. Same with losers.

Build a routine where you implement the habits. For example, a morning routine and an evening routine.

Morning routine: What time do you want to get up? What do you do straight after you get up? Do you meditate, count your blessings, send love to someone? What is your intention for today?

Having a morning routine sets your mindset. It can be negative if you start with bad habits. Choose wisely.

Evening routine: This is when you should reflect.

How did your day go? What went as planned? What needs to be carried on to tomorrow, what needs to be added or completely scratched out?

The mind processes last pieces of information you consumed before going to sleep so let it be constructive.

This is why many people get great ideas in the shower, first thing in the morning!

Their mind was doing its work when they were sleeping.

Journal and read something inspirational before bed.

Shake up your routine when you feel your life is getting boring.

Add things to your routine or change it up a bit. If you work out three times a day and these days are set. Maybe fit in the workout routine on different days.

If you’re only doing lifts, add a run.

Life is about relationships and experiences so make sure to schedule in regular trips, getaways, things to see, travel, and eat.

Don’t get so busy with accomplishing goals that you forget to live.

Life is also a continuous learning and growing journey.

Do quarterly reflections of your goals and relationships. How are things going? What can be improved? Check in with people, how are they doing?

Doing things regardless of your mood is discipline.

You can use a worksheet like this to track how well you are performing your new habits:

Ensure that you pick habits, create a routine, and build a rhythm for life not just weeks or months.

Consider the massive cost of being inconsistent. You will not have achieved what you set your mind to achieve. Think about your why-power always.

Chapter 5: Influences

“Make sure you’re not spending three hours with a three-minute person.”

This chapter is about how different influences have an impact on you and what you can do about it.

The three major influences are:

Input (what you feed your mind), associations (the people with whom you spend time), and environment (your surroundings).

Our brain is programmed to seek out the negative because it has one job – survival!

It sets out to seek what we lack and dangers so that we can act on it and be safe.

This is why its so easy to be negative, complain, judge and think about everything that you don’t have.

This is also why you need to be extra cautious of what you feed your mind.

“Be selective with what you watch, read, and hear. Clean out your mind by inputting positive, inspirational, and supportive input and ideas.

Stories of aspiration, people who despite challenges, are overcoming obstacles and achieving great things.

Strategies of success, prosperity, health, love, and joy. Ideas to create more abundance, to grow, expand, and become more. Examples and stories of what’s good, right, and possible in the world.”

Step 1: Stand guard

Don’t watch or read the news. At least limit it if you can’t escape it completely.

The news brainwashes you to think that the world is a nasty place when in fact so much good happens but it’s never on the news.

Only look up the things you need to know about the economy or politics or an industry for your goals or desires.

Don’t waste your time going through mindless nonsense about the world.

Step 2: Enrol in Drive-Time U

If you drive regularly or commute, this is your chance to fill in your travel time with something inspirational or instructional.

You can listen to an inspirational or instructional podcast to soak up on all the good and correct information you need.

You have control!

It’s said that your group determines 95% of success or failure in life.

We become the combined average of the 5 people we hang around the most. This concludes the type of conversations that will dominate our life, attitude, and opinions.

“You cannot hang out with negative people and expect a positive life.”

Jot down 5 names you the spend most time with. Write their characteristics - negative and positive.

How is their health? Bank balance? Relationships? Is this okay for you? Is where they are, also where you want to be?

If you are not happy with what you find. Ask them if they are interested in growing. Give personal development advice and see if they want to be better.

If not, cut them off completely. Surround yourself with people that will improve the quality of your life, and that represent and support your vision.

This may sound harsh but those that refuse to grow and live positively will only drag your spirit down.

You can also have limited associations.

“Make sure you’re not spending three hours with a three-minute person.”

There are people that you can’t avoid or people that you have known for a long time and may have supported you in some way.

If that’s the case, you can limit your association with them and not cut them off completely.

Don’t forget to reach out to people as well. These are your expanded associations.

Reach out to people that have what you want and spend more time with them. Let their influence rub off on you.

Choose or get a mentor. This can be through books they have written, or podcast etc.

What do they read? What do they do? Who do they associate with? How do they spend their time?

Join the clubs or organisations where you can meet these people.

You’re never too good for a mentor. Invest in yourself. Every part – speech, writing, humour all of it.

Do what you can to level up.

If I’m honest, I don’t agree with letting go of people that won’t elevate you. I don’t believe that someone has to always give you something.

If they are positive, considerate, and loving, they should be worth staying in your life. You can always learn something from someone.

Have someone in your life that can be brutally honest with you and ask them these questions – if you dare!

“How do I show up to you? What do you think my strengths are? In what areas do you think I can improve? Where do you think I sabotage myself? What’s one thing I can stop doing that would benefit me the most? What’s the one thing I should start doing?”

Be picky with who you ask advice from. Darren has a board of advisors that he can check in with and ask questions about his business.

But remember, “never ask advice of someone with whom you wouldn’t want to trade places.”

Finally, what is in your surroundings?

Go to an environment where you won’t find people at your level and places that don’t look familiar.

Even if you don’t meet people, the surroundings can really fuel your ambition and expand your mindset.

The whole point of being mindful of what you allow into your life is that it sets standards.

“It’s amazing how life will organise around the standards you set for yourself.”

If you tolerate disrespect, then you will be disrespected. If you let people walk all over you, you will remain a doormat.

You are worthy and deserving of everything you desire, don’t accept less. Set standards for how people can treat you. But also treat them how you want to be treated.

“Get rid of everything that is broken around you, isn’t working or makes you cringe.

Every incomplete promise, commitment, and agreement saps your strength because it blocks your momentum and inhibits your ability to move forward.

Incomplete tasks keep calling you back to the past to take care of them.”

Chapter 6: Acceleration

“Viewing yourself as your toughest competitor is one of the best ways to multiply your results.”

This chapter is about going one step forward in whatever you do, whatever you planned to do, and whatever your max is. It makes all the difference.

When you realise your only true competitor is yourself everything changes. When you hit a wall, you’ll know that it’s only the limits that you had set for yourself that you have to now overcome.

This is the part that you know it will be difficult, but it’s good.

You know that others hit this wall too, but the difference is that if you keep going, you’ll actually achieve your goal and be ahead.

If you expect to make 15 reps when working out, just do a few more. You multiply your results of this single workout.

When you go on a run and feel the burn and this is when you just want to stop – go a little farther, just a little longer.

“It’s the extra effort after you have done your best that is the difference maker.”

Once you have mastered going further than your set limits, go beyond other peoples’ expectations.

Go beyond what other people think is enough.

I did my work placement recently with a company called InterNations. I worked for them for 5 months.

When my placement ended, my supervisor arranged a surprise meeting where my colleagues said goodbye.

I also received a digitally signed ‘goodbye’ card.

If that wasn’t enough, I received a parcel from them with a notebook. I was very grateful and excited. No one had shown this gesture of appreciation before.

The next day I received another gift!

It’s still not over. A few days later I received a mug delivered from the InterNations company in Germany.

I could not believe it. They really exceeded my expectations of showing appreciation. And clearly it had a positive impact. I’m writing this for you.

Sometimes these gestures can really have an impact on someone’s life. Just do a little bit more.

It doesn’t take a lot more effort.

Lastly, do what is unexpected.

Darren said this in the book and it really resonated with me:

“I’m a contrarian by nature, I know. Tell me what everyone else does, what’s the consensus and what’s popular, and I will typically do the opposite. If everyone is zigging, I’m gonna zag.”

I’m exactly what he described. Don’t like to be average. If you do what everyone else is doing, you will always stay average.

Not really exciting, is it?

Go a bit more, do more than enough, and do something that is completely unexpected.

Likes

This book can really help people find what truly matters to them and take control of the trajectory of their life.

Everything is clearly written and explained. Anyone can read it, it’s not a long read.

The tasks are very do-able and the summary page after every chapter really helps to identify which areas you should work on.

I’ve read many personal development books, but I really feel that if someone makes use of these steps, you can achieve whatever you desire.

The stories make this book really enjoyable to read. One of Darren’s personal stories of strengthening his marriage really stuck with me.

He came up with a strategy to show his appreciation for his wife. Every single day he wrote something positive about his wife in his gratitude journal.

This allowed him to see all the good things, inevitably making his love stronger for her. And of course, the ripple effect came to work, and it effected his wife positively too.

Many things that I have learnt about personal growth have been summed up very nicely in this one book. I like that I could take a look in ‘The Compound Effect’ and find real value.

Dislikes

I have been into personal development for a while now so the content in this book was not new to me. It was more of a reminder of what I had already learnt.

This book can be really valuable for someone that is a beginner in the self-improvement area.

I have been doing many of the things that have been assigned in this book. Nonetheless I really enjoyed reading it.

It’s definitely great quality.

Recommendation

I highly recommend everyone to read this book. Even if you are not a beginner, the stories and examples make it very enjoyable.

The greatest part is that the strategies are realistic and if you follow them your dreams will become attainable.

This is a start to attaining more abundance and living a high-quality life. This book covers everything, it’s worth it!

Read, share, comment, and let me know what you think!