The person who has “made it;” the “overnight success;” the lucky one “born with a silver spoon in his mouth;” they are representations of accomplishment. However, people who fit these descriptions are being photographed after they cross the finish line. We see them as winners, but we are often not privy to the pain, setbacks, and failures that happened along the way.
This week’s quote is a reminder that successful people do not start there. It is a journey to reach the point of observable achievement. They usually started by gaining small victories that snowballed into greater success.
The words of the Greek orator Demosthenes suggest we trace large scale success back to tackling small opportunities. To go big, we must start small.
The Benefits of Small Thinking
Encouraging people to think small, not big is counter to nearly every book written about success. I agree with the basic premise of that view—small thinking is limiting and sabotages personal growth. However, Demosthenes is not advocating we limit our sights. Instead, he frames great achievement as the culmination of many small victories.
Consider small thinking as Goal Setting 101; in order to reach a goal it requires completing smaller tasks along the way. The marathon runner does not stumble out of bed on race day deciding to run 26.2 miles. Instead, it is the day that is the payoff for months of training. The newly appointed CEO did not have her name drawn from a hat to win the job. She put in years of moving through the ranks. Along the way, she gained experience, learned new skills, and brought more value to the organization.
It can be more appealing to focus on the big goals like landing the executive position, winning the league championship, or earning an advanced degree. However, you will never realize them without checking off smaller achievements that comprise the journey to the big goal.
My Small Start Story
I reflected on the idea that small opportunities often lead to great enterprises. “Had I experienced the power of small opportunities?” I asked myself. A situation came to mind immediately that I credit for empowering me to step out of my comfort zone. Although it happened nearly 20 years ago, it impacts my behavior to this day.
We signed up our middle son, Sidney, to play soccer for the first time. The league director phoned with information about Sidney’s team assignment. My excitement for the upcoming season was soon dampened by news the director shared: Sidney’s team did not have a coach. The team would have to be disbanded without a coach to lead the boys. You might be able to predict the follow-up question from the director: “Would you be interested in coaching the team, Mr. Roy?” I knew the question was coming, too.
It wasn’t that I did not want to coach; the challenge was I knew nothing about soccer. I played and followed sports my entire life, but soccer was not a sport played during my youth. I apparently forgot that I knew nothing about soccer because I agreed to coach a group of five-year-old kids. Thankfully, I had two players on the school soccer team as students in my classes that semester. They shared ideas on some basic drills to run. Looking back, the season was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as an adult. It gave me confidence to tackle other opportunities when they came my way that challenged me to do something new.
Think Small and Big Will Follow
I continue to be on the lookout for small opportunities. Sometimes, it seems too overwhelming to take on new tasks or projects. Your plate may be full, and the last thing you need is something else to do. While it is important to not take on more than you can handle, we are challenged to balance new opportunities and potential overload.
Completing small tasks and projects has a snowball effect. Experience gained and momentum built moves us forward to new experiences that stretch our capabilities. It is easy to say “no” as new opportunities come along, but are we doing so at the expense of growth? Getting to the big wins often requires a willingness to start with small opportunities.
