I just heard a very short address by Admiral McRaven to the University of Texas called Life Lesson #1. In a short 90 seconds, he explained the importance of making his bed properly in boot camp. “It isn’t going to change the world in the short term,” he said, “ but it could change your life.”

The life lesson is, if you can master one simple, mundane task to perfection, if you make your bed in the morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day, it will give you a small sense of pride, and encourage you to accomplish another, and then another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will turn into many tasks completed. And making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things.

And if by chance you have a miserable day, you’ll come home to a bed that is made – that YOU made, and encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

So if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

What little thing can you start mastering today?

Betsy Nickless, CDFA, is the Business Manager for Mark Scheurer Architects in Newport Beach, California and is a member of the SDA National Past Presidents Council.