What about the little stuff?
I get thinking big. In fact it comes naturally. But then, I get frightened. Not because of how big the thinking is. The scary part is when I go from thinking big to sorting out all of the little steps it takes to get big. So, imagine you are in the second year of your service business and all of the elements are in place to be booked solid. You are half way there and whoa Nellie! There's a whole lot of little stuff that has to happen to execute all those commitments. Frankly, it would be easier to going back to thinking big. It's a whole lot easier than "Being Big!" So here's a question? What are the 5 things you have to do every week to stay focused on the little things that add up to big? I'm thinking about 1. Respect that it does take time and effort, 2. Trust the process, 3. Make your calendar work for you, 4. Move, assess, adapt, move again 5. Celebrate every small success along the way. Ask me tomorrow and I bet I'll have 5 more! I'd love to hear what others would list as their 5.
Tags: 5, Being, Big, anyway, being, big, do, focus, it, little, More…
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by tonia boterf on -
1. Serious time management which includes prioritizing and systems for EVERYTHING! 2. Have support network to bounce off of and someone keeping you accountable. 3. Focus on what you're good at and what makes the money, find ways to mimize the others - virtual assistant, other help, systems, organizaiton tools, etc. 4. "Just Do It", the fear of failure and fear of success go hand in hand and can paralize you, so just give in and "Just Do It". 5. FOCUS on what's important, build time for you, be flexible and amendable to chang based on the market, realize that your business is not built of solid cheese but rather swiss. You can never have all the holes filled, go with the flow and that will help with the prioritizing. Find people who like to fill holes while you make more BIG CHEESE.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Dargis on -
1) Have a list of all your projects so you know whether they are moving forward
2) Challenge with a friend - ok this hour I will do this, this and this and then check back in with each other
3) Take only a few of the to do's out at a time - a whole list is overwhelming
4) Use OneNote or Evernote or some note program to keep all the notes/to do's about each project
5) Have a little thing day once a week, twice a week or once a month whichever your business needs
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Permalink Reply by Joan Bell on -
Love this topic! My take on this great question is to turn your Big Stuff into little games. This makes it more fun and if it isn't fun for me it isn't worth doing.
So step 1 would be - Turn it into a game(s) (name the game) and work out the daily practices you need to improve, to win this game! Practice really does make perfect and eventually these practices become second nature.
Step 2. Prioritize and focus on these practices
Step 3. Make a list of what obstacles may stand in your way
Step 4. Create solutions to the above possibilities
Step 5. Reward effort as well as wins
Thinking big Nancy as you say is easy, it's the actions that make the difference and nothing else works.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Goranson on
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To do the "little stuff" you need to have a clear understanding to how it helps you deliver on your 'big idea". To have that clear understanding you need a well define action plan of what you need to execute and achieve.
I have a hard time getting real clarity of what I would like my life to be in 5-10 years down the road. But I can get some clarity of where I would like to be 2 years from now. I try to write down my big idea of what I want 2 years from now in as much detail as I can.
I like to think of this process as writing my success book and I begin by writing the end. With the end in mind, the next step is to break that down in to 8 chapters (or quarters) and create a title or theme for each quarter. After I have my chapter titles or quarterly themes I begin to create a short 300 word executive summary for the 1st 3 chapters or quarters. Now that I have a bit more clarity of where I am going, I create a specific 90 day plan to make that 1st chapter a reality. Part of that 90 day plan is what I have to work on or focus on during each of the 13 weeks to make this quarter vision a reality. At the end of each week I look at what needs to be focused on this week and create a weekly and daily plan. Finally after the end of your 1st quarter, you right your executive summary for the 4th quarter and a detail 90 day plan for the current quarter. After each quarter, month, and week you need to review your progress and award your achievements.
This process continues each quarter but at the end of the year start the whole process all over beginning with writing out where you big idea will be in 2 years.
I guess what I'm trying to say doing the little stuff is each if you are clear on what you want and a clear understanding of how this little stuff you need to do will help you live your big dream. We can't manage time, we can only manage ourselves. We will only do things we really want to do. No athlete likes to run laps, do push ups or sit up. They do these little things because they understand that by doing them, they will achieve their goal.
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Sullivan on -
Great question, Nancy. Thanks for suggesting it. For me, it goes like this:
1. Keep the vision of my big thinking in my mind. It keeps me inspired and excited about where I'm going and what I'm doing. As Henry Ford said, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” Ford could have easily used the word vision here. I try to keep my eyes on the prize so that they're not distracted by the million other tasks--that sometimes can present as obstacles--that come up in the course of a day.
2. Record and celebrate my progress: I have a plan, I know my goals, and I know the metrics that will advance me to my goals. On a weekly basis, I track (and as necessary adjust) these metrics. And whether with an ice cream cone or a massage, I too celebrate the successes, even the small ones.
3. Meditate and otherwise practice mindfulness as much as possible. This helps reduce my "monkey brain" (sound familiar anyone?) and to sort out the important from the unimportant details, as well as my creativity flowing.
4. Listen. During the course of the day I listen as much as I talk. I listen to my clients, my vendors, my business network partners, the members of my business accountability group. I also listen intently to my own instincts and trust them more each day. Listening expedites my learning and helps me to stay focused on what I need to do to move foward.
5. I practice patience and good humor in equal measures. To both laugh and show kindness to myself or another in the form of patience feeds my soul, and thus grows my big thinking.
Here's to taking daily steps towards ThinkingBig!
Carolyn Sullivan
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Permalink Reply by IWANTOUT OFthis on -
There are those who are better at thinking big and those who are great at focusing on the little stuff. When budget allows, I make sure I have that person on the team to do the important little stuff as directed. That way I can stay focused on forward motion, big picture. I tend to think of big goal and then what little things are necessary to support it. My "little stuff" is on a to-do list and I delegate as much of it as possible. The list gets long and things fall off due to priorities. I try to keep the biggest ones on top. I do less long-term strategic planning and more "off the cuff" taking advantage of opportunities. Then I try to build on the opportunities that happen. I've learned to ask for help and hire to my weakness. Very stimulating topic. What else have I missed?
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Permalink Reply by Nancy Ballinger on -
Wow! Thanks to all of you for such thoughtful and rich responses. Since this blog I have formed two critical alliances that have allowed me to delegate the stuff I'm not good at and as you all said keep my eye on the big ball giving the best of what I bring to that vision. Each of you have contributed to pushing me over the edge and allow the free fall, you know, just doing it! Even though it feels like a free fall, I have the energy and confidence to take that next big step! Oh yea, and amazing things are showing up as a result!
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Permalink Reply by Joan Bell on
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Go Nancy, Congratulations!
The smallest action is often the catalyst for more actions more often.
I was listening to a recording yesterday with Nick Williams and I loved what he said about "the path appears as you walk it. You just need to take the next step" .Even though this is out of context, you can still capture the essence of what he was referring to. I think it's about trusting in the process and allowing the Universe to work its magic.
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Permalink Reply by Kelly Mac Donald on -
The little stuff feels little and it interferes with thinking big. I think that the little stuff all adds up to the BIG stuff and that Thinking Big is fun and then you need to get to work on the little stuff. Good post!
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