Immediate

The nearest measurable payoff, the one that lands right after the effort ends. Write it as a specific result at a specific date, so you can tell whether a method actually worked at all before you judge whether it lasted.

The nearest measurable payoff, the one that lands right after the effort ends. Write it as a specific result at a specific date, so you can tell whether a method actually worked at all before you judge whether it lasted.

Example

For the exam, the immediate line is: score 90 or higher on next Tuesday's test. Cramming clears that bar. Naming it plainly keeps you honest about what cramming genuinely buys you, and about what the other two horizons still have to answer for.