Big goals are exciting for about two days. After that, they turn into something you dodge while you alphabetize the spice rack or reorganize your desk drawer again.
Small goals, though—the ones that almost feel too easy—are the ones that actually get done.
I’ve proven this to myself over and over.
Thirty years of entrepreneurship and a decade of podcasting have shown me that the things that stick are the things that are simple, repeatable, and doable on an average Tuesday.
Small goals aren’t glamorous. They don’t look impressive on a vision board. But they work. And after hundreds of conversations with experts, entrepreneurs, creatives, and healers, I know exactly why.
The Experts
Before we dig in, here are the five guests whose insights helped shape my thinking on small, sustainable goals.
Andrew Kap (Episode 246) is the author of The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need to Read, teaching how to make daily practices enjoyable and easy to maintain.
Erica Neubert Campbell (Episode 292) is an award-winning writer and breast cancer survivor who finished her book by writing one sentence at a time.
Jill Wright (Episode 244) is a time and habit strategist who specializes in micro-habits so tiny they’re impossible to resist.
Larry Wilson (Episode 186) is an Emmy-nominated comedy magician and creator of the Wilson Method, focusing on consistency and clear, manageable steps.
Riley Jarvis (Episode 128) is the founder of The Sleep Consultant, helping high performers improve energy through small, incremental changes.
1. Make It So Easy You’d Feel Foolish Not Doing It
Andrew Kap couldn’t spend hours a day on his manifestation practice, but he could commit to five minutes.
His framework emphasizes making habits “convenient, accessible, easy, fun, enjoyable.” When a goal is that small, you stop negotiating with yourself, and you simply do it.
If you can’t commit to five minutes, you won’t commit to fifty. Lowering the barrier of entry is what makes consistency possible.
Your action step: Choose one task you’ve been avoiding. Now shrink it to a five-minute version. Set a timer. Do only that.
2. One Sentence Is Better Than Zero Sentences
Erica Neubert Campbell finished her book by committing to writing one sentence per day. Not a chapter, not a page—just one sentence.
That tiny commitment carried her through the entire writing process. One sentence today becomes two tomorrow, becomes a paragraph next week.
During my hardest seasons, this approach saved me too. On days when big tasks felt impossible, I could still write one caption or outline one idea. Those tiny actions kept my business moving.
Your action step: Identify the one-sentence version of your biggest project. Write that sentence today. Then write one tomorrow.
3. You Don’t Need Huge Things to Make a Difference
Habit strategist Jill Wright teaches people to choose actions so small the brain can’t argue with them. One squat. One minute of focused work. One outreach message. Micro-habits disarm resistance and create trust with yourself.
When I did my 10-squats-a-day experiment, I didn’t start with 30. I started with 10. Then I added more as it became natural. I missed one day. I still exceeded my goal.
Small feels doable. Small builds momentum. And, small leads to strength.
Your action step: Take your next goal and reduce it to its smallest possible version. Do that version today.
4. Little Baby Steps Consistently Day After Day
Larry Wilson reminds us that consistency beats intensity every single time. Most people take one giant action, get tired, and then disappear for weeks.
Instead, Larry focuses on “little baby steps consistently day after day after day.” That’s what carries a project across the finish line.
This is a lesson I return to constantly. When I’m tempted to overdo it, I remind myself that building something meaningful comes from showing up repeatedly, not dramatically.
Your action step: Break your next big project into the smallest daily action. Commit to seven days of that action. Just seven.
5. Make Small, Incremental Tweaks Instead of Cold-Turkey Changes
Riley Jarvis works with high performers who want better sleep, and his advice applies to almost everything: don’t overhaul your entire life overnight.
Most people try to reset their mornings, change their diet, rebuild their business systems, and revamp their content strategy at the same time—and crash within days.
Riley encourages identifying one micro-adjustment and letting it become automatic before adding anything else. That’s how sustainable routines form.
Your action step: Look at your to-do list. Choose one thing you can commit to for the next 30 days. Only one.
Want to hear the full conversations?
- Episode 246: Andrew Kap on The Last Law of Attraction
- Episode 292: Erica Neubert Campbell on Turning a Double Mastectomy into a Story of Healing
- Episode 117: Jill Wright Talks Self-Care for Busy Moms
- Episode 186: Larry Wilson on How to Talk to Humans
- Episode 128: Riley Jarvis on Transforming Sleep for High Performers
Why Small Goals Work When Big Goals Fail
After hundreds of podcast conversations and years of supporting women rebuilding after cancer, divorce, and loss, I’ve learned big goals are intoxicating but fragile.
Big goals rely on willpower, and willpower is unreliable.
Small goals don’t require willpower. They require presence. When the goal is tiny, you can complete it even on your worst day.
You have permission to make your goals embarrassingly small. Start with one sentence. One squat. Five minutes of focused attention. Build slowly and keep going.
The question isn’t whether small goals work. The question is whether you’re willing to start small enough.
What’s the ridiculously small version of the goal you’ve been avoiding? Drop a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Stay Groovy!
Heads up: Some of the links here are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to buy. No extra cost to you.
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