The Importance Of Taking Small Steps Toward Your Goals
We all have goals. However, the ways to achieve them can differ quite a bit from person to person. You’re either in the camp of trying to make huge leaps and bounds or inching there by taking small steps. I suppose as long as you get there, neither is inherently wrong. But, let’s examine the small step approach and why it might make your journey a bit easier to tackle.
The Taking Small Steps Ladder Illustration
I saw a meme going around the other day that depicted the small vs. big steps goal approaches. The sketch is a huge ladder with a person standing in front of it looking up. One ladder has fewer rungs spaced really far apart. The other has a larger number of rungs really close together. This simple picture illustrates different approaches to ultimately landing where we desire to be.
Obviously, if we pick to climb the ladder with the small number of rungs far apart, we’ll take fewer steps to reaching our goal. But, each rung might be harder to reach. If we choose the other ladder, we’ll take more steps. However, achieving the goal might be easier by taking our time and making small steps as opposed to trying to make huge leaps and bounds.
I’m a small step person myself. And, I think if we’re honest many of us are. Think about it. When you wake up to start your day you don’t skip straight to the end. At least I hope not. We ease into our day. Maybe you have a cup of coffee, proceed to a shower, brushing your teeth, getting dressed and so forth.
Next, we tackle the commute if we’re not lucky enough to work remotely. And, the rest of the day is a series of taking small steps we check off to accomplish the tasks our job assigns us each day. If I tried to think about the tasks as a whole, I would become overwhelmed and nothing would get done. I wouldn’t be able to even start. I’d be stuck just spinning around like that little circle on your computer when it gets overwhelmed.
My Approach To Taking Small Steps
I love to make lists on the notes section of my phone. There’s a satisfaction for me when I can grab that green check mark emoji and check off a ‘to do.’ I feel I’ve accomplished something, no matter how small. That’s why some money experts suggest that approach to getting out of debt.
Yes, if you tackled your largest debt first you’d probably be saving more in interest. However, it seems daunting. I prefer the method that focuses on the smaller debt so I can actually feel like I’m seeing progress. Taking small steps toward the goal.
Ultimately, it’s up to you. Choose the ladder that suits you and start making the climb!
