What are the little steps that will get you to your big goal?

When I was a kid, math time tests were the norm. It turns out, this is still a thing. Kids are expected to be able to know single digit math with speed and ease as a baseline for mastering more complex math skills. My kid has a goal she is trying to hit with these math tests, and she brings home practice sheets weekly to strengthen her skills outside class. For months, she has not been able to reach the target that would allow her to move onto the next phase. She has been very frustrated. She sees the number completed as not the goal and therefore a failure. 

When I pull out all the practice sheets she completed over the weeks and show her the progression of improvement, we can see the trend line moving in the right direction. She is close. She can see that the practice makes a difference. She simply needs to keep practicing, one sheet at a time, and it will happen.

Conquering the time test goal is like conquering your business goal. You have a set point you need to hit. We would like it to happen overnight. Yet we realistically know it is going to take many small steps and consistency in our activities to achieve the target. 

Little steps are part of every big goal. Whether it is doubling the size of your business or running a 5k, you must take little steps if you are ever going to succeed. As you look at your business goals, identify the activities, that with practice, consistency and focus, will allow you to succeed overtime. Make a plan to complete those activities and then execute.

Ignore the big goal and focus on the little steps. Maintain your schedule for whatever those activities are. Track your efforts and any specific outcomes. Make each week about the tasks that need to be done to serve the greater goal. You may not feel like you are moving the needle with each little task, but the steps you take get you closer to the objective.

Quarterly or monthly, set up a time to review progress on your efforts and outcomes. This is your opportunity to see how far the needle has moved. Confirm you are moving in the correct direction. This is also a great opportunity to evaluate the little steps you are taking and tweak any details of your plan based on what you learned through consistent motion. 

Setting the big goals is the easy part of owning a business. Identifying and sticking with the little steps that need to be taken to get closer to the goals is the hard part. Creating a plan for consistent action and committing to those steps is a great way to make the big goals less frustrating to achieve.