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Ever notice how your most ambitious goals often take a backseat to the urgent-but-unimportant tasks flooding your inbox? You're not alone.
As leaders, we're excellent at handling what's on fire right now. Another urgent email? Handled. Last-minute client request? Done. But our bigger aspirations – launching that new division, writing the book, building that game-changing product – somehow keep sliding to next quarter.
James Clear's "Atomic Habits" illuminates why this happens: We're wired for immediate rewards, not delayed gratification. When faced with a choice between a small, immediate win (clearing our inbox) and a step toward a distant goal (working on our strategy document), we'll usually choose the quick win.
But here's the breakthrough: Our most significant achievements don't require massive action. They require consistent, tiny steps.
Think about it: A 1% improvement daily compounds to a 37x improvement over a year. Yet we often dismiss small progress as insignificant, waiting instead for the "perfect time" to make big moves.
Here's how to break this cycle:
Instead writing on your daily list "launch new podcast," try "spend 20 minutes mapping potential podcasts to be a guest on."
Rather than "write a book," start with "outline one chapter section."
Replace "transform company culture" with "have one meaningful 1:1 with a team member."
The magic happens when these small actions compound.
Your 20-minute potential podcast mapping session sparks a valuable conversation.
That single chapter outline grows into a writing routine.
The meaningful 1:1 creates ripples of positive change throughout your team.
Remember: If you're not breaking down your goals small enough that they feel almost too easy, they're probably still too big.
The most successful transformations often look boringly simple in the moment. But string enough of these moments together, and you've built something remarkable.
What's one tiny step you could take today toward your biggest goal?
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