I think we’ve got it all wrong.

When we’re trying to get ahead, we’re told to “go big or go home.”

Some might even say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Well, I am here to tell you that you need to focus on the small stuff, because the little things often have the biggest impact on our goals.

Don’t climb a mountain, go for a walk

Everyone has their own mountains to climb, but most people never even start. Do you know why that is? Because they’re standing at the base of the mountain thinking, “how the hell am I going to get all the way up there?”

I’ll tell you how, start walking.

Start small

Take one small step, and then another, and another. Before you know it you’ll be well on your way towards the peak. You might even find a shortcut. Or, maybe you encounter someone along the route who shows you a less strenuous path. There’s a chance that you will run into another pack of climbers who you can share the journey with.

But, you have no chance of finishing the climb if you never start.

Small steps = big “mo”

You know, “mo” like momentum.

It’s one thing to have a goal, or a plan, a process, or whatever. But, none of those things really matter. If you’re goal is too big, your plan too complicated, you will fail. Not because you can’t accomplish the goal, but because you became too overwhelmed, too soon.

You don’t really believe that you can do it.  When you see the first sign that this might be true, when you encounter the first bit of turbulence, you quit.

That’s where momentum comes into play.

Start setting smaller goals, take smaller steps and see what happens. You’ll build up your confidence, your skills, and your knowledge. You’ll start to believe that you can do it, that you can do anything. You’ll have momentum on your side.

The power of small

One small action will lead to another. One small accomplishment will lead to a bigger one. A chance meeting will lead to a business relationship. A blog post will turn into a book. A daily exercise routine becomes part of an active lifestyle. Small changes to what you eat become part of a sustainable diet.

So on and so forth.

Starting small is how we get moving. Staying small is how we make progress, and it’s also how we form habits. It’s the small, consistent habits that we form that enable us to do big things.

But, there are also small, destructive habits that suck the life out of us. Ultimately, they prevent us from doing big things. Procrastination, making excuses, negative self-talk, and doubt can crush our potential.

You conquer them the same way you climb the mountain, small steps in the right direction every day. Change negative habits to positive ones, one at a time, through constant, consistent action. That’s how shit gets done.

No positive action is too small, no negative habit too inconsequential to address.

If you think the small things doing matter, think about the last time you lost a game by one point; still a loss, right?

That’s why I am telling you to stay focused on the small things, because the smallest moments, steps, and actions make the biggest difference in our lives.