Sketchplanations

Explaining one thing a week in a sketch

The One in a Row principle: the way it all starts - with a person pushing over the first bowling pin — wisdom from Matthew McConaughey

One in a Row

Any success takes one in a row. Do one thing well, then another. Once, then once more. Over and over until the end, then it's one in a row again.

— Matthew McConaughey
From the book Greenlights

Big things start small. It's easy to get caught up in trying to do everything at once, but you have to start somewhere. You don't need to complete the whole row today. Every sustained success starts with the first one. Sketchplanations started as one in a row.

After the first few successes, the power of streaks can take over. Oh, and never miss twice.

I created a series of sketches on getting started. Find them at: https://sketchplanations.com/categories/starting

Greenlights is full of fun stories. I highly recommend the audiobook of Greenlights with Matthew McConaughey's full-of-life performance—like no other audiobook I've listened to.

Related Ideas to the One-in-a-Row Principle

Also see:

Keep exploring

The Data Prison illustration: shows 2 tables with identical data describing a schedule of work and fun for every day of the week. The "imprisoned" data in the table on the left is separated by lines in a grid. The "freed" data in the table on the right has no lines, and instead uses shading and spacing.
Leading from any chair, the fifth practice from The Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander. From Eugene Lehner's story: What would I say should I suddenly be called upon to lead?
Curly hair is oval illustration showing the cross-section of a hair follicle from oval to round and labelling it with curly, wavy, and straight
The Rhyme As Reason Effect illustration: whilst on a stroll, one friend shrewdly convinces the other about how aphorisms that rhyme tend to be more believable, by including a rhyme in their statement.
Two people on a desert island trying to find some privacy
Buy Me A Coffee