We spend so much time trying to think our way to success. We plan, predict, and imagine the finish line long before we even start. We tell ourselves that clarity will come when the picture is complete, and then we can act. But the truth is, clarity rarely shows up when you’re sitting still. It happens in motion.

This is why I believe in the power of small steps. Not small in ambition, but small in execution. The kind of steps that feel almost too obvious to matter. The paradox is that these small steps aren’t just the beginning—they’re the work itself.

Stop designing the whole bridge

Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a canyon, dreaming about the bridge you want to build to get to the other side. You sketch plans. You refine the materials. You imagine how it will look when it’s done. But the canyon remains uncrossed. Why? Because the bridge doesn’t build itself.

Now imagine instead that you lay down one plank. You don’t worry about whether it’s the perfect plank. You just put it down and see what happens next.

Most people never get past the sketch. They’re waiting for the perfect plan. But the only way to actually build something is to start small. The first plank leads to the next, and as you go, you learn. You figure out what works. You adapt.

Goals don’t matter as much as direction

People love to fixate on goals: specific, measurable outcomes that are supposed to act as a North Star. But goals have a hidden flaw—they’re often built on guesses. You think you want to get to point B, but halfway through, you realize you actually want to head in a different direction.

Small steps don’t need a fixed destination. They just need a general sense of direction. If you’re walking toward something that feels meaningful, every step counts. And if you decide to pivot, you’re already in motion. Adjusting your course is far easier when you’re not chained to an outcome.

Start by asking “What can I do right now?”

The simplest way to make progress isn’t to set a goal; it’s to take action. Not big action, not monumental action, but immediate action.

If you want to write a book, don’t worry about the outline. Write a sentence. If you want to start a business, don’t agonize over the business plan. Sell one thing. If you want to redesign your home, don’t pin dozens of ideas to a board. Rearrange one piece of furniture.

These small actions matter because they create momentum. And momentum is where the magic happens. Once you’ve started, the next step feels easier. And the step after that feels even easier still.

The power of unfinished work

One of the most counterintuitive lessons I’ve learned is that unfinished work is incredibly valuable. When you leave something half-done, your brain can’t help but keep working on it in the background.

That’s why I like to end my day with something incomplete. If I’m writing, I leave a sentence unfinished. If I’m designing, I stop mid-sketch. That way, when I come back to it, I’m already halfway into the work.

Small steps aren’t just about starting; they’re about staying connected. When you’re always in the middle of something, the work becomes a natural part of your day. It stops feeling like an event and starts feeling like a habit.

Focus on input, not output

The problem with most goal-setting is that it focuses entirely on output: write the book, build the product, lose the weight. But you don’t control the output. What you control is the input—the time, effort, and energy you invest.

This is where small steps shine. They’re manageable, repeatable, and sustainable. They let you focus on what you can actually do, not what you hope to achieve.

Think of it like planting seeds. You can’t make the tree grow faster, but you can water it every day. And if you plant enough seeds, eventually you’ll have a forest.

A life built on small steps

At the end of the day, what matters isn’t the big leaps or grand visions. It’s the daily choices we make. The work we chip away at, little by little.

Small steps aren’t just a way to start; they’re a way to live. They let you stay present, adapt to change, and keep moving forward, even when the path is uncertain.

So stop trying to think your way to success. Start small. Lay down the first plank. And then the next. One day, you’ll look back and realize you’ve built something far bigger than you ever imagined.