Why Small Changes Matter

My alarm started making that ridiculous noise this morning at 5am. I snoozed once and immediately my mind started cycling through reasons I should just go back to sleep instead of attending the zoom starting in 20 minutes.

“People need to sleep, you should sleep.”

“It’s the last week of the bootcamp, you won’t be missing much.”

“Enough with this hustle culture (this was my mind playing tricks, because I obviously do not subscribe to hustle culture), just hit snooze.”

The excuses because louder and louder until finally I turned on my bedside lamp and hopped out of bed. I pride myself in quitting things, but only if I really should. Getting out of bed to attend the last week of a 6 week business bootcamp could only be helpful.

I think I was hoping for a more rapid business transformation, but I’m learning: that’s not actually reality.

In a world that often glorifies overnight success and dramatic transformations, it's easy to overlook the power of small changes.

We're inundated with stories of people who seemingly achieve their goals quickly after ideation, leaving us feeling inadequate or wondering why our own progress seems so slow. You know what I’m talking about, why can’t I see a change after one trip to the gym or one post on social media?

But I’m starting to learn a secret and it’s this. The magic sauce is not in massive one time overhauls, but in the consistent pursuit of small, incremental improvements. I know, right? Why can’t it be at the snap of my fingers?

It's time to debunk the myth of overnight success. Sure, do some people achieve instant success? Maybe… but likely not. With the presence of social media, we often think that someone’s story began when WE started following along, but there were likely years of hard work preceding.

Behind every seemingly instant success story lies a wealth of failure, persistence, pivoting, and yes, small changes made consistently over time.

Small changes may seem insignificant in the moment, but their impact accumulates. Whether it's dedicating just five minutes a day to a new hobby, making healthier food choices, or practicing gratitude before bed, these seemingly minor adjustments have the power to compound and create lasting transformation in our lives.

One of the main advantages of focusing on small changes is that they're much more manageable and sustainable than attempting massive overhauls. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of our goals, we can break them down into smaller, more achievable tasks. By taking things one step at a time, we build momentum and confidence, making it easier to stay committed to our long-term vision.

So, where to begin? The key is to start small. Take a moment to reflect on your goals and identify one small change that you can implement today. It could be as simple as drinking an extra glass of water, practicing deep breathing for a few minutes, or tidying up your workspace. Remember, the goal isn't perfection – it's progress. I was listening to a podcast once and the guest, mindset and behavioral expert John Assaraf made a comment that has stuck with me for years.

He said: “Start with one pushup.”

Like, don’t think so far ahead that you get overwhelmed and never begin, just literally start so small it seems silly. Our brains are like that. The resistance of overthinking is real. For instance, my brain trying to talk myself out of attending the zoom this morning. You know what I did? I turned the light on. I put my feet on the floor. I took a sip of water. All seemingly small actions that led to my desired outcome.

In a world that's constantly pushing us to do more, be more, and achieve more, it's important to remember that progress doesn't always come in grand gestures. Sometimes, it's the smallest of actions that have the biggest impact. So, don't underestimate the power of small changes. Start by tackling one thing today, and watch as those tiny tweaks add up to something truly extraordinary.

As I like to say, Think Bigger, Start Smaller.