Progress Beats Perfection: Small Wins Build Big Results

“I want to lose 40 pounds.”

“I want to close $500K in deals this quarter.”

“I want to become a best-selling author.”

Have you ever felt that surge of motivation, set what felt like an enormous goal, and then found yourself so overwhelmed by the distance between where you are and where you want to be that you never actually start? Or maybe you dive in, only to give up the second you hit some friction?

Been there. Most have.

Motivation is fleeting. You read a quote, watch an inspiring video, and feel unstoppable—right up until you realize how much work is involved. Then come the excuses. We stall, waiting for the “perfect plan” or the “perfect time,” and while we wait, momentum dies. What we really need isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Consistent, daily progress that stacks into unstoppable momentum.

How Small Wins Shift Everything

Momentum Beats Motivation

Motivation is unreliable—it’s here one day, gone the next. Momentum, however, feeds on consistent effort. Each small win nudges you forward until it becomes inevitable you’ll reach your goal.

Confidence Grows Through Action

Completing even a tiny step reminds you of what you’re capable of. That little boost of confidence paves the way for bigger, bolder moves. Checking items off your list is empowering.

Clarity Emerges When You Move

We often wait for the perfect plan, but clarity appears when you take action. Big or small, every step reveals what works, what doesn’t, and how to adapt next. My new saying: “Start with what you know, figure out the rest as you go.”

Why Perfection Kills Progress

When you demand perfection, every hiccup feels catastrophic. You see a missed target or unexpected obstacle and think, “That’s it, I failed.” Meanwhile, the real key is consistently taking small, intentional steps—even if it’s messy. Focusing on your daily inputs (calls, meetings, gym visits, writing sessions) is what eventually drives the bigger results (contracts signed, pounds lost, books published).

There are two characters in this story:

? The Over-Thinker sets a massive revenue goal but spends months researching, reading business books, and seeking advice—yet never makes a single call.

? The Progress Seeker sets the same goal but starts small, making at least one sales call every day. They track responses, tweak their script, and after a few weeks, they’ve either closed deals or learned exactly what to improve.

Who wins in the long run?

I used to be that Over-Thinker. I’d spend time thinking through everything—what could go right and wrong, every possible outcome, and still stay on the sidelines. But the people who took action—right or wrong—would be stacking wins (and losses) that taught them exactly how to reach the next level. Once I flipped the script and became the Progress Seeker, I felt free. Instead of beating myself up for not starting and telling myself maybe I wasn’t cut out for this, I was racking up daily wins, trusting that each step would compound into a bigger success.

These actions got me in shape, on stage as a speaker, launched businesses, built this newsletter, published my Grateful Growth 90 Day Gratitude and Productivity Journal, and created the life of freedom and success I’d been envisioning.

Four Steps to Stack Your Small Wins

1. Set a Manageable Daily Action

Identify something that advances your goal but won’t overwhelm you—like sending three emails, making five calls, or dedicating an hour to strategic planning. Keep it measurable.

2. Celebrate Every Victory

Finished your calls today? Showed up at the gym? Finished drafting your proposal? Acknowledge it. Recognizing small wins cements the habit and fuels your drive.

3. Iterate and Improve

Every micro-win (or micro-fail) gives you data. Measure, adjust, and move forward again. Real progress thrives on constant adaptation, not a one-off perfect attempt.

4. Stay Consistent—Even When It’s Boring

High performers aren’t motivated 24/7; they’re disciplined. Show up daily, even when it’s tough or dull. Over time, you’ll find consistency becomes so second-nature that missing a day feels off. That’s when you know you’re locked in.

Take Your Action Step

What’s one small win you’ll commit to today? It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering—just something meaningful that moves you closer to your biggest goals. Could be a single phone call, a 15-minute brainstorming session, or an extra lap around the block.

Drop a comment and let me know. Let’s ditch the perfection mindset and stack those small wins until we hit something massive.

Because the only way to guarantee failure is not starting at all. Everything else is just a stepping stone on the path to success.