"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." — Raymond Hull
"Progress is made step by step, little by little, a little today, a little more tomorrow, and still a little more the next day."
Hull understood that massive change happens through incremental steps consistently taken, not through bursts of unsustainable effort.
Hull's Progressive Achievement Method stands in stark contrast to the "overnight success" mentality common in contemporary culture. Instead, it recognizes that meaningful achievement follows predictable psychological patterns that work with—rather than against—human nature.
Hull identified three fundamental psychological principles that govern achievement. Understanding these principles transforms goal pursuit from a frustrating struggle into a natural, almost inevitable progression.
It's easier to keep a body in motion than to start from rest. Small initial actions create momentum that makes subsequent actions easier. This is why starting with the smallest possible action—what Hull calls the "minimum effective dose"—is critically important.
Small actions, consistently taken, compound over time. Just as money grows through compound interest, skills, habits, and achievements grow through consistent application. The key is consistency over intensity—steady progress outperforms sporadic bursts of effort.
Each small achievement creates confidence and self-efficacy, which in turn powers greater achievements. This creates an upward spiral of success where each win makes the next one more likely. This is why Hull emphasized beginning with goals that are challenging yet achievable.
Rather than pushing against human psychology, Hull's method works with these principles, creating a path that feels natural rather than forced. This alignment with our innate psychological tendencies is what makes the method both powerful and sustainable.
Hull's framework transforms vague goals into concrete achievements through a systematic process that builds on each success. This isn't just a technique; it's a comprehensive system for turning desires into reality.
After identifying your goals (as covered in the Goal Clarity section), arrange them in order of ease of achievement. This creates a natural progression where each success builds confidence for the next challenge.
"The psychological impact of achieving your first goal will enormously increase your ability to achieve the second, and so on."
For each goal, create a detailed action plan that breaks down the achievement into concrete, sequential steps. This transforms abstract goals into practical actions that can be taken immediately.
"A goal without a plan is merely a wish. Detailed actions convert wishes into achievable outcomes."
Publish a book on personal development
Identify the smallest possible action that still moves you forward. This "minimum effective dose" is designed to be so easy that you can't say no. It leverages the momentum principle to overcome inertia.
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
Write for 3 hours each morning
Write one paragraph each day
Document each accomplishment, no matter how small. This creates a visible record of progress that reinforces the success spiral and maintains motivation during plateaus or temporary setbacks.
"What gets measured gets improved. Track your progress meticulously, for in this record you will find both motivation and the seeds of future achievement."
The Progressive Achievement Method works precisely because it aligns with human psychology rather than fighting against it. Each step builds upon the last, creating an upward spiral of success that becomes self-reinforcing.
Even with the best approach, obstacles are inevitable. Hull identified the most common barriers to progressive achievement and provided practical solutions to overcome them.
When goals seem too big or complex, motivation wanes and procrastination takes over.
Break the goal down into even smaller parts. If writing a paragraph feels overwhelming, start with writing a single sentence. There's always a smaller unit of progress.
The desire for immediate results can lead to discouragement when progress seems slow.
Focus on process over outcome. Celebrate the consistent application of your system rather than fixating solely on results, which often lag behind efforts.
The belief that something must be done perfectly or not at all prevents many from taking action.
Embrace the concept of "good enough for now." Progress comes through iteration, not perfection. The perfect should never be the enemy of the good.
Sporadic effort produces sporadic results, undermining the power of the compound effect.
Create environmental triggers and habits that make consistency automatic. Link your minimum effective dose to an existing daily habit to leverage the power of habit stacking.
By anticipating these common obstacles and having solutions ready in advance, you can maintain momentum even when motivation naturally fluctuates. This proactive approach to obstacle management is a key feature of Hull's systematic methodology.
Hull observed that progress rarely follows a linear path. Instead, it typically follows an exponential curve with three distinct phases:
Progress is minimal despite consistent effort. This is where most people quit, not realizing they're laying essential groundwork.
Momentum builds as efforts begin compounding. Progress becomes more noticeable and motivation increases.
Progress accelerates dramatically. The same amount of effort now produces significantly greater results.
"The early phase requires the most faith, for it is here that you must continue despite little external evidence of progress. Trust the process, for the exponential growth that follows will more than compensate for this initial investment."
Take one of your goals from the Goal Clarity exercise and create a Progressive Achievement plan using Hull's methodology.
Remember to identify your minimum effective dose—the smallest possible action that still moves you toward your goal. This is your entry point to the success spiral.