I love old adages. You know the ones I mean - those old sayings your parents used to tell you all the time that drove you crazy, but make sense now that you've matured. "A penny saved is a penny earned." "Pride goeth before a fall." And one of my favorites - "Inch by inch, success is a cinch."
Actually, it wasn't my parents who introduced this one to me. It was success coach Mike Litman. And I did take the liberty of rewording it just a bit. The actual saying is "Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life is a cinch." But the path to success is also easier if taken a step at a time. So inch by inch, success IS a cinch.
When starting a new business, or trying to expand an existing one, it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the "stuff" there is to do. Sometimes you just don't know where to start and there seems to never be enough hours in the day to get everything done. In fact, it can be so overwhelming and exhausting that many people quit before they ever really get started.
What can we do when we have too much to do? Instead of giving in, try tackling one thing at a time. Don't try to do more. You'll only wind up tired and frustrated. In fact, you might actually want to do less. But do it right. Instead of running around taking potshots at each of your to-do items, pick one today and focus all your attention on it. Starting a new business? What is one thing that you can accomplish today that will help you move forward? Have you done your market research? Written your business plan? Decided on a business name? Choose one task today, complete it, and check it off your list. If it's a large project like research or writing your business plan, break it up into smaller pieces and then finish one of these each day. Once you have completed your task for the day, move on to something else.
Are you trying to expand an already established business? The process is still the same. What is one thing you can do today to move your business forward? Write an article for publication? Develop a new product? Create an advertising campaign? Choose one thing and devote yourself to it. Again, if it's a bigger project such as creating a new ad campaign, break it into smaller, manageable tasks. Then choose one of those and tackle it. Focus on it until it's completed. Then move on to the next step.
This may drive those of you who, like me, want instant gratification, just a bit crazy. I admit - one step at a time was very hard for me in the beginning. But it works. Small steps planned with care will achieve more than leaping in without thinking. And each step moves you that much closer to your overall goal - and success!
What ONE thing can you do today to move closer to your goal? Take that small step. Because slow and steady wins the race. Rome wasn't built in a day. The hurrider I go the behinder I get. Haste makes waste. And inch by inch, success really is a cinch!
