[The following is an excerpt from the motivational book, Believe. Do. And Follow Through!, that I co-wrote with Isaiah Whittaker]
Chapter 11
Hopefully by now, you’ve figured out what it is that you want to accomplish. Is it little? Is it big? Is it gigantic? No matter how big your dream may seem, it can be achieved, one step at a time:
- First, list out all the steps involved in order of importance: most to least.
- Then, start working on the most important thing.
- Chip away at it, bit by bit, and eventually it will get done.
- Repeat this process, over and over, until you work through all of the steps.
- When you have a step that seems too big to handle, break it into smaller pieces.
Doing that will make the things doable. Making things into doable formats not only helps you succeed at doing whatever you’re working on, it helps you have a better attitude about other things in your life.
It’s like the proverbial question and answer, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Some tasks really are big, while some just seem like it. Either way, if you break things into manageable chunks, the work is doable.
And… success breeds success. So, once you check one thing off your list, you’ll feel better about getting the rest done.
As you work through each of the steps that you list out and become successful at them, you’ll develop a system of accomplishment that works for you. That’s when the rest of it will make sense – with each piece falling in line with the next.
If you try to do everything at once, you’ll get overwhelmed and quit. But, if you do things bit-by-bit, then it’s manageable – you’ll be able to make it all the way through.
Remember, greatness doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen all at once.
Greatness happens bit by bit.
Marty Reep 