Achieve A Lot with Just A Little
June 16, 2008
by Karen D. Swim
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
— Vincent Van Gogh
As we begin the second half of 2008, it is a good time to evaluate and adjust if necessary. In considering my own journey I realized that the only thing separating me from achieving all that I want is “a little.” The path from average to great is only a little farther away. Consider the impact of just a little.
- Adding a mere ten minutes to a run can burn an extra 100 calories.
- Ten dollars a month can prevent a child from starving.
- You can develop a new habit in 21 days.
- A dash of salt can season an entire dish
- Making one more sales call at the end of your day can help you win President’s Club.
- A basketball team can win a game by one point.
- You only need one publisher to accept your book.
- Tiny mustard seeds grow into shrubs three or four feet high.
- A tiny variation in a single gene determines how acutely you feel pain.
What impact would a little extra effort have on your business, your life? Would your family benefit from one hour of your focused attention? How would one extra rep impact your workouts? Would one additional client per week make a difference in your business? Could a tiny change in your budget help you meet your financial goals?
What about you? Can a little go a long way in your life?
Comments
17 Responses to “Achieve A Lot with Just A Little”
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Hi Karen,
It’s amazing what a little extra effort can do in any area of life.
I think this is particularly so in our relationships with others, where simple things like a little smile or laugh, a small act of courtesy or spending one minute to sit down and listen can make an enormous difference.
Cheers
Andrew
Andrew, that is such a great point! In my own life it is the small gestures that have meant so much to me. I will keep this in mind today and try to make a small impact on the people I encounter. Thanks for the comment!
Cheers back, Karen
That one more piece of T.P. will make the toilet overflow…!!!
(heh heh heh)
- Friar
Friar, ROFL! I so needed that laugh!
Karen,
This statement is so true. It is amazing how consistency plays a role in just conquering the small tasks. Thanks for the reminder and the great post.
Sherita, you said a mouthful! Consistency. I’m glad we have this medium where we can all support and remind each other to stay on track. Doing the little things consistently will serve us well. Thank you so much Sherita for joining in the discussion!
I agree with Sherita. The consistent application of just a bit more effort pays off.
I was reminded of this over the weekend when I drew a quick sketch. The figure was so vivid and brimming with energy. I know that if I hadn’t scribble a bit each day for the last two years that such a drawing just would not be possible.
It made me wonder though just what I might do if I worked a bit harder…
Jamie, this week I am working on working just a little bit harder too. That little extra push can yield surprising results. Will those sketches ever go public?
And candidates have won by one vote (obviously hundreds of years ago before chads and crazy caucuses). Great stuff.
I’ll take a dose of “extra” with my Dr. Pepper this morning. Having trouble waking up and moving forward on an article. I think you just gave me that “extra” nudge.
Great post, Karen. Big results come from little bits of extra effort. Yesterday’s U.S. Open playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate is a great example. Both golfers pulled clutch shots out of their bag when they needed to. If either one of them had gone through the motions at any point in the match, it would have been all over. You have to be on your “A game” all the time.
Oh, Karen! Are you trying to get me to start a new website? How Not to Draw?
LOL
@Jamie, ROFL!!! Yes, yes that was my master plan.
*rubs hand together in mischievous laughter* Notice, mischief not scoundrel. 
@Brad, that is an awesome example! Very good example for me to keep in mind today too. Thanks Brad!
One clap can cause an avalanche; one more penny, a million dollars; one hug, the difference between life and death; one client, ultimate success; one blog post, a change that lasts a lifetime.
@Steph, one comment can cause your heart to sing.
Thanks as always for brightening my day. 
Karen: Glad to return the favour.