Thinking Small

When you’re trying to get better at something it’s important to think small. Thinking big has some upside, but too often you’ll never get started. When it comes to actually doing the work, you need to think small. The reason for this is one word: momentum. Momentum is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. A little bit of momentum can get you so much farther than you think and give you the mindset and energy you need to improve.

Thinking small also forces you to think in the here and now, or the present. Thinking big takes you away from the present and takes your mind to a point that’s years and years away. Thinking small forces you to ask the crucial question “what can I do right now that will help me achieve my goals?.”

How do you determine what to do? You take a big goal you have and break it down into tiny, bite-sized chunks. Here are some examples:

• If you want to be cleaner, make your bed.
• If you want to be more productive, write down your biggest things you need to get done on a piece of paper.
• If you want to get fit, do 10 pushups.
• If you want to lose weight, eat a salad for your next lunch.
• If you want to be a writer, write 1 page.
• If you want to start reading, read 1 page.
• If you want to find a new job, update your resume then send it to 1 company.
• If you want to start a company, write out the idea and send it to 5 friends you trust.

Everything above is not the final goal, it’s just a means to an end. It’s the way to get started. It’s the way to get small wins under your belt. It’s the way to get Momentum. And Momentum is absolutely vital.