Accomplishing Goals, One Step at a Time

Around the office, it’s not uncommon to hear me ask (sometimes to myself, btw), “How do you eat an elephant?” 
One bite at a time.

When you’re at the start of a big goal—say, a new marketing campaign with countless pieces in motion—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We’ve all been there, staring at the mountain ahead and wondering, How am I ever going to climb this? But here’s the secret to making it work: systems. Systems are the unsung heroes of goal achievement. They break down big ambitions into actionable steps, helping us focus on the process instead of the daunting end goal.

As James Clear explains in his article on The Mission, goals are important, but it’s the systems—the steps, routines, and daily actions—that actually drive success. Think about it: if your goal is to save for a home, it’s the budgeting system that gets you there. Training for a marathon? It’s the regular workouts and gradual progress that lead to the finish line.

Systems keep us moving forward, one manageable step at a time. And before you know it, those steps add up. When you’re facing a big task, it’s exciting to see the big picture, but don’t forget to shift the focus when it’s time to get to work. Create a system, tackle that first step, and don’t worry about the whole elephant. You’ll get there—one bite at a time.