Three Minute Leadership: Small Wins
To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
Legendary coach, John Wooden, wrote: “When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur…. Don’t look for the quick, big improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens – and when it happens, it lasts.”
In addition to its beauty, joy and excitement, the great leader’s life journey is filled with a continuing stream of opportunities, challenges and, sometimes, seemingly impossible obstacles and problems. It is the treasure of their “small win” mindset that enables them to successfully address these growth and change opportunities.
Karl Weik, in his paper, Small Wins, Redefining the Scale of Social Problems, writes: “A small win reduces importance (‘this is no big deal’), reduces demands (‘that’s all that needs to be done’), and raises perceived skill levels (‘I can do at least that’).” This mindset that creates confidence by minimizing the perceived magnitude of a situation and, in its achievement, builds in the great leaders further belief in their own abilities and potential.
May you celebrate joyfully each of your “small step” achievements remembering always the words of Henry Thoreau: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Become more than you ever dreamed you could be… and more… so much more. Life is so very good.
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Mike
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