Fellow UNDIRA friends, you must have experienced that life is a cycle full of dynamics. Each individual moves at different speeds. There truly is no shortcut to achieving success, yet sometimes we become complacent with external success and get swept away by the current to accelerate our self-development.

Excessive ambition will actually burden ourselves. The saying "the stake is bigger than the pole" becomes an appropriate expression for the trend-following lifestyle of the majority of young people today.

As a result, many students and fresh graduates set unrealistic targets: jobs with salaries of tens of millions, successful businesses within months, or drastic life changes. When reality doesn't meet expectations, prolonged stress, anxiety, even depression, and gradual burnout emerge.

If fellow UNDIRA friends feel pressure to fulfill ambitions hastily, perhaps one literary work titled 'Atomic Habits' will be the best reference for changing your lives. True to its name 'atomic' - which is one of the smallest basic parts that compose matter in the world, Atomic Habits, a book by James Clear, comes to reveal how small things can influence self-development.

'Little by little becomes a hill' might be the appropriate proverb to describe the literary work Atomic Habits. Success is not the result of spectacular big actions, but rather the accumulation of small decisions made repeatedly.

In the midst of the social media era that promotes comparison through the presentation of highlight reels of perfect lives, Atomic Habits teaches focus on step-by-step effort toward success. Instead of obsessing over big targets, it's better to build a system of habits that supports achieving those targets.

"1% better every day" or consistency in steps taken slowly is better than accelerating development hastily. Not only can haste eliminate focus, but if left unchecked, it will impact career and social life.

The student years and early career period are crucial times for forming the foundation of long-term success. For active students, atomic habits help manage academics and self-development in a balanced way. With the 1% better every day approach, students can consistently improve academic abilities, soft skills, and career preparation without being overwhelmed.

For fresh graduates, the knowledge gained from Atomic Habits is important in navigating the challenging early career. In this competitive era, the ability to consistently improve oneself becomes the most valuable skill.

Choose self-development with a focus on small habit systems that compound over time. Success is not about achieving one big goal, but becoming the best version of yourself every day. Remember, fellow UNDIRA friends, we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.