Discover the mindset that has changed the lives of many.
The Unsexy Secret to Real Progress
When most of us think of success, we imagine big things like landing a huge job, building the next unicorn startup, writing a best-selling book, or becoming “that person” on LinkedIn who always has wins to post.
But here’s a secret most people won’t tell you: big things don’t start big. They start small. Very small — that’s not a motivational quote, it’s real life.
The Problem with “Overnight Success”
Social media makes it look like people just wake up one day and blow, but if you zoom in, you’ll usually find months, or even years of small, quiet steps nobody saw. Tiny projects. Side hustles that flopped. Awkward first drafts. Practice sessions at 11PM when no one was clapping. That’s the real backstory.
The problem is, when you set out to do something new, starting small feels like you’re not doing enough. You might think, “Why write one paragraph when I need to finish the whole book?” or “Why apply for this internship? I need a full-time role!” or “Why build a small website? I want to launch a full tech company.” I can bet you can relate to this. We all just want to “Nike it”, as in do it and get it done… completely. Interestingly, even Nike didn’t start big.So, here’s the trick: Starting small is how you build momentum, and momentum is how you win.
Small = Sustainable
When you start small, you remove the pressure of perfection. You actually do the thing instead of just planning it forever.
Want to become a better writer? Start with 100 words a day.
Want to learn AI? Play with prompts for 10 minutes after lunch.
Want to switch careers? DM one person in the field and ask for advice.
That’s it. No grand announcements needed.
The Compound Effect
The reason small steps matter is because they compound. Think of it like saving ₦500 every day. By the end of the year, that’s over ₦180,000—not small anymore, right?
Skills work the same way. Every tiny action adds up. One email turns into a conversation. One conversation turns into an opportunity. One small project becomes part of your portfolio. Before you know it, you look back and realize, “Wow, I’ve actually gone far.” 5 Minutes a day taking a course for an area you want to pivot into might seem insignificant, but start it first.
So, What Should You Do Today?
Pick one thing you’ve been postponing because you think it feels too small and start it. Write the first paragraph. Apply for the role you’re “not ready” for. Post the idea you’ve been overthinking. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to go big.
Going small consistently is the real hack for going big later because at the end of the day, growth is less about huge leaps and more about tiny steps repeated over time.
So, start small. Stay steady. Watch it build.