No matter how much we wish otherwise, most of us don’t have enough time to do everything that we want each day. We all have long lists of what we want to accomplish, and no matter how hard we try, we never get everything done.
In fact, it may be so bad that you may feel like you don’t get anything done, but I’m sure that’s not the case. You probably do get a lot done, but it may not be the things that you WANT to get done each week. Or, you may feel that since you have such a short amount of time to get something done, that it isn’t worth doing anything.
What if you could get more done each day, and more importantly feel the individual successes? Do you think that would help you not only feel better, but get even more done in the future? When you celebrate a “win”, not only did you do something, but you get more motivation to do something else. You are happier once you have the win. Best of all, you build confidence and feel like you can repeat the process and do something else.
What’s great is that it doesn’t matter the size of the win. Any “win” will make you happier. Any win will give you motivation. So why keep trying to accomplish huge tasks that are never going to happen? Try having small wins, and you’ll see how much it can change your life.
What is a Small Win?
A small win is the successful completion of a task, the overcoming of a minor obstacle, or the achievement of a modest goal. It’s something that should spark joy and motivate you to keep pushing forward. Whether in your business or personal life, a small win is accomplishing something, anything, that you can build on.
Why Small Wins Matter:
Forget the old advice of dreaming big. Yes, you still need to dream big, that’s a given. But you shouldn’t focus only on the end game. It’s the small, tangible victories that help you go from dreams to reality. Imagine launching your business. Landing that first client won’t make you a millionaire overnight, but it’s a monumental win that propels you forward. You might wish your entire home was clean and organized, but once you get the first area done, you’ll be happy and motivated to keep going. You’ll start to change your thinking and see that it can be done, and you can be the one to do it.
Your to-do list is still long, but if you finally fixed that leaky faucet that’s been bothering you, that’s a win. You should celebrate it and not brush it off. Small wins inject dopamine (the feel-good hormone) into your system, fueling the motivation to tackle the other items on your list.
The Domino Effect:
Small wins are like dominoes. You push the first one, and before you know it, the rest of them will fall, almost effortlessly. Starting your day with a small accomplishment sets the tone for the rest of the day. When you’ve already been productive early in the day, it helps you keep going and getting more done.
In business, conquering the smaller milestones builds momentum. It’s the equivalent of a snowball effect, gaining size and speed as it rolls down the hill. The more small wins you accumulate, the more unstoppable you become.
The Psychology Behind Small Wins:
The brain loves rewards, no matter how trivial. When you achieve something, no matter how small, your brain registers it as a win. It’s like a little pat on the back, releasing a flood of positive vibes. Your brain wants more of that feeling, therefore when you achieve a win, you’ll want more of them.
Consider this: you’ve been struggling with a complex problem at work. You finally figure it out, and you’re thrilled. Your brain revels in the accomplishment, boosting your confidence and problem-solving abilities. It’s not only a win; it gives you the want to tackle the next challenge. You’re now looking forward to the next task.
You Won’t Always Win:
I’m sure you know this already, but not every day will be a triumph. Even if you’re trying to have small wins, you won’t always succeed. There will still be days that you won’t accomplish want you want to. There will be setbacks that are hard to take. But here’s the kicker – those small wins act as your armor, shielding you from the blows.
Imagine you’re trying to improve your fitness, and you indulge in a cheat day. Instead of spiraling into guilt, focus on the days you stuck to your routine. These are the small wins that anchor you, reminding you that one slip-up doesn’t erase your progress. You’ll still be able to point to your many other small wins, and those will outweigh the days you don’t have a win.
Small Wins in Business:
If you’re not making a full time income with your business yet, you may feel that you’re failing. But there are a lot of small wins that have to happen before you’re successful. When you’re starting out it may seem impossible, but all it takes is a series of small wins, and you’ll get there.
Personal Life Triumphs:
Now, let’s shift the lens to personal victories because life isn’t just about having a successful business. It’s your day-to-day life that shapes you. From getting your closet organized to waking up a half of an hour earlier, every small win counts. These things will help you be happier and more motivated to do more.
Building Resilience:
Life isn’t easy. Things won’t always go as you’ve planned. Having resilience is what will help you survive and get what you want out of life. Small wins act as building blocks, constructing a fortress of resilience around you. Each time you have another win, you have more confidence that you’ll have another win soon.
Celebrating Imperfection:
No one is perfect, and you’ll find that nothing in life goes perfectly. Life is messy, and so are your victories. Don’t worry if your win isn’t perfect either. That do-it-yourself home project might not be Pinterest-worthy, but the fact that you ventured into uncharted DIY territory? That’s the win. You accomplished something that you didn’t think you’d be able to do. Even though it isn’t perfect, you did want you set out to do and next time will do an even better job.
In business, the pursuit of perfection can be paralyzing. You won’t be perfect. Don’t try to be. Instead, focus on your progress. Your product doesn’t have to be flawless; it just needs to solve a problem. Those incremental improvements? That’s what you need. You may not love the email that you sent out, but celebrate that you sent an email out to your list.
What about Big Goals?
Don’t think that because you’re focusing on small wins that you can’t have big goals. You absolutely can (and should) still have big goals. You should start re-framing these big goals into a bunch of smaller, little goals. Then each time you finish one, you can have a small win and it will help you get to the next little goal. Before you know it, you’ll have gone through all of your little goals, and will have accomplished the big goal that you may have never thought you would have achieved.
Small Wins: The Ultimate Mind Hack:
Small wins aren’t the “easy way out.” They’re the secret for anyone looking to hack into their own potential. It’s not about going from nothing to a goal, but the small wins that will get you there. Your small wins will add up over time, and you’ll get to where you want to be.
