I just recently heard the phrase “needle mover” for the first time a week or two ago. A little Googling shows that it’s used a lot by financial commentators and by business consultants. In short, a “needle mover” is an activity that will really move your project forward.
What I like about this phrase is that you can use it to visualize a gauge for your progress. Some examples might include:
- a speedometer: is your project moving forward at 5 mph? what would it take to move it forward at 20 mph?
- a scale: what would it take to move the needle closer to your target goal?
- a compass: do you need to redirect your actions so that you’re heading in the right direction?
- a quality of life gauge: what would it take to move the needle from good to GREAT today?
Especially for visual learners, such mental images can be really helpful in motivating progress and success.
Also, sometimes we can become dulled to words like important or priority. Changing the language you use can help you make choices when you feel overwhelmed by lots of tasks that are all important.
So: what’s your needle mover today?