Have you ever made a big change in your life? Did the change happen overnight? In most cases, probably not. It took time. Each of us shares at least one thing in common: We all have at our disposal 1,440 minutes in a single day. What we do with that time; however, is what ultimately makes us different.

What would happen if you took just one percent of those 1,440 minutes, just 14 minutes and 24 seconds—about 15 minutes a day—and consciously tried to change your life? In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, you'll learn how those 15 minutes could transform your business, with these insights on micro-shifting from Gary Jansen, senior editor of Penguin Random House.

Jansen explains how he took action to change his life in just 15 minutes a day: "I had always wanted to be a writer, but I never wrote a single word. I was scared to take action, and I was afraid of failure. But once I started thinking about this idea of micro-shifting, I realized I could take something daunting like writing a book and break it down into bite-size pieces. Once I did that, I didn't feel so intimidated anymore.

"So even though I had a high-pressure job as an editor, a wife, a son and a long commute from the suburbs to the city every day, I got serious and committed to writing for 15 minutes every day. I did this consistently for one year. It was tough, and a lot of times I wanted to give up. And most of what I wrote was garbage. But, in the end, it didn't matter. I was building writing muscles by making the time and being consistent.

"And you know what? I ended up writing a book on something I was really passionate about—prayer and spirituality. It ended up getting published, which led to writing more books down the road. And along the way, I ended up becoming an editor to one of my writing heroes, none other than Deepak Chopra."

What if you used this same strategy? Does 15 minutes of working toward your goal sound too daunting? Start off by spending one minute each day focusing on the future. Do that for a week, and then increase it by half a minute every day for about 30 days. In very little time, you'll be giving one percent of your life to your future goal. Think of it like this: If you're consistent in this practice, in 12 months you will have spent more than 5,000 minutes towards your goal. Jensen calls these 15-minute bursts "micro-shifts," and they can change your life.

What are some micro-shifts you can do in 15 minutes that can change your life? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Create a daily ritual where you can cultivate silence, read, pray or meditate.
  • Go for a walk or get a set of dumbbells and start lifting weights.
  • Reach out to a mentor or serve as a mentee.
  • Work on a side project for work.
  • Practice an instrument. You might not become Mozart or Taylor Swift, but in one year's time, you'll be able to play songs on a piano or guitar.
  • Get up 15 minutes earlier so you're not rushed in the morning or go to sleep 15 minutes earlier every night.
  • Call someone you love.

We all know that life can be overwhelming. But making a micro-shift of 15 minutes a day to cultivate yourself, your business or a relationship will lead to more excitement, balance and happiness in your life. Try it, and see what happens.

Source: Gary Jansen is a senior editor of Penguin Random House where he has published books by Deepak Chopra, Michael A. Singer, Kimberly Snyder and Pope Francis. He is the author of Life Everlasting: Catholic Devotions for the Everyday Seeker and The Fifteen Minute Prayer Solution.