A Baby Step

“Remember to dream big, think long-term, underacheive on a daily basis, and take baby steps. That is the key to long-term success.”

Robert Kiyosaki

“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.” 


Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I fell asleep early tonight and then woke up around 1:00 a.m.  I should go back to sleep.  It would not be wrong.  It would not be a sign of weakness.  I’m tired.  I should go to sleep and take care of my body.  And I will.  But I’m still going to try to do one more blog before going back to sleep, another short one.

Since my goal is completely self-imposed, I don’t have to do this.  It won’t kill me to get some sleep.  In fact it might help.  But it also won’t kill me to put forth just a little more effort.  It won’t kill me to get one step closer to my goal.   I’m tired, but I actually feel happy doing this.  I’m not going to be here long, but I think I can do just one more blog. 

The problem is I don’t know what to write.  Of course, I rarely do when I get here, so I’m just going to let my fingers keep moving.

Sometimes I think that’s one of the secrets of success.  Don’t just show up.  Move.  Do something.  Look around and see what needs to be done. 

Is the place clean? 

Are things organized? 

Am I caught up on yesterday’s work? 

Is there something I can make better? 

Is there something new I can start?

Does someone around me need help?

Can I take just one more action?

Can I write just one more sentence?

Yes, usually I can. 

And sometimes that’s all that’s required.  That’s what “Keep Going” means.  It means one small step at a time.  It also means I don’t stop.   So I keep going.  I’m going to stop pretty soon but because I want to not because I have to.  It’s just a baby step.

I remember a saying I heard years ago:  It’s not a piano.  That means that I’m not moving a piano.  I’m not doing brain surgery.  I’m writing blogs, trying to reach a self-imposed goal.  If I reach this goal, no one may even notice or care.  So I don’t have to be exacting with how many blogs I do or how long they are.  I just need to do my best.

Still for some reason I’m remembering a time when I was moving a piece of furniture.  It wasn’t a piano; it was a bar.  But somehow during the move the bar got damaged and there was a big tear in the wood at the bottom of the bar.  I remember the look of horror when the owner saw it.  I don’t know if anyone will look on me in horror if I don’t reach my goal.  But I do know how good I will feel if I reach my goal.

I feel good now, because I just got one more step closer to my goal.  And it wasn’t a baby step.  Now I can sleep better.  And tomorrow I can wake up and do another one…and another.  Tomorrow I can Get Started and Keep Going.  Right now I’m going back to sleep.