Incrementalism

Did you know we are still in an ice age? That's right! We are in an age called the Quaternary Glaciation, which began 2.6 million years ago and continues today. However, we are currently in an interglacial period (a warmer phase within the ice age). Scientists used to believe that ice ages were caused by sudden catastrophic events like volcanoes or floods. It wasn't until much later that we learned about incrementalism—slow, slight changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt over millions of years.

It's similar to how we look at compound interest. We start with a small amount of money, but when compounded over 20, 30, 40, or 50 years, that small amount becomes huge. Some people say Warren Buffett is wealthy because he’s extraordinarily smart. That might be true but he himself says he’s rich because of his patience. He has famously said, "My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest."

Incrementalism, patience, and making small changes over time—how can you benefit from this theory? I always think of football. There are teams that throw big bombs for touchdowns, and there are teams that work their way down the field, play after play, with short passes and runs. They end up in the same end zone as the team that threw the big bombs but do it consistently and wisely use their time with less interceptions.

My point is that you don't have to throw bombs or make risky stock picks to succeed. You can make small changes over time that will improve your life. You can wake up 15 minutes earlier, go to the gym or walk one more day a week, add one more street to your farm area, or save an extra $50.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. We all want what we want when we want it, but incrementalism is powerful. Let's be willing to make small changes and be patient. I’m not great at this either, but small consistent changes create ice ages, So I’m willing to try.