You've Got to Start Somewhere

They say don't sweat the small stuff, but it can be challenging to see the bigger picture while the small stuff seems to overshadow it. 

When you're just starting out--a new endeavor, a change in lifestyle--that newness, those tiny numbers--it all feels so small. You hear your mind rattling off the baby steps:

"I started my workout today."
"It's been 3 days since I stopped smoking."
"I've made 15 sales."

No wonder it's so easy to give up on a dream. After all, starting is half the battle, and that's a clue in itself that there's more than one way to look at the numbers.

Some things take time....

I recall taking a management course early in my information technology career that taught an astute approach to decision making. That method has stuck with me for nearly three decades and informed many tough choices in the workplace and beyond.

This approach, developed by the Kepner Tregoe consulting firm, adds the dimension of weights to scale-of-1-to-10 valuing. While the business version of this method can seem rather complex, you can adapt it to make almost any critical decision. Say you're wondering whether to buy a new car. Using KT, you start by making a list of the pros for choosing the decision as favorable, and then a list of cons for scrapping the idea. At the end of this first pass, you may end up with 3 "pros" that point to making the purchase, and only 1 "con" that says, "don't do it."

Now go back through both lists, assigning a weight of importance between 1 and 10 to each "for" and each "against" buying the car. When you include these weights with the original totals for each list, you may find a very different picture. For example, there might be only one downside: that you'll be tapped out financially each month to cover payments. Given the potential for certain disaster, you'll probably want to rate this a 10 on the importance scale. Even if the 3 pros rate 2 points each for a total of 6 on the positive side, that single negative factor creates a weighted total that advises against a car purchase for now.

But wait a minute. If we're talking about progress rather than decisions, how does all this math help paint a clear picture of steps toward a goal? Let's start by tweaking the KT rating method a bit.

First list all those things you've done to move forward, and then list everything that's held you back. Now go through each list and apply a weight factor, item by item. If you've started something new--anything from opening a new business to running a marathon--that start is a crucial step that deserves ample value. You may also want to include a positive line item for working each day toward your goal, no matter how slight that work seems. After all, daily commitment has certain value, too.

As you take the time to add up the reality of your efforts, you might be surprised to discover that you're more successful than you thought. You might even feel a little grateful for that small stuff.