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It’s The Little Things That Big Dreams Are Made Of

This post was most recently updated on August 1st, 2016

It's The Little Things That Big Dreams Are Made Of People don’t always like to hear this, but it’s the little things that big dreams are made of.

They don’t like to hear it because they often don’t really want to do those little things.

Now, this may seem strange to hear, because you’d think that people would be happy to have little tasks to tend to, rather than try to undertake huge projects.

But it’s not usually true.

Here’s why.

If you have a Big Project to do, it’s easy to find reasons to put it off.

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

  • I can’t start it today, or tomorrow, or this week, because…
  • I have to wait until I can really sit down and figure out how to proceed.
  • I need at least 3 or 4 days to work on this intensely, just to get it started.
  • Maybe I’ll wait for my 2 week vacation time.
  • I need to start taking some notes, doing some basic research before I can tackle this.
  • I don’t really know how to do such a big thing.
  • I’d better buy a few courses or books about this so I can start understanding what I’ve got to do.
  • This is my Big Project. It’s got to be absolutely perfect.
  • I need to really get my act together before I can start something like this.

You see, it’s easy to justify putting off the Big Project… the Big Dream.

It’s much easier thinking about it, mulling it over, considering it, preparing for it, reading some books about it, watching how other people are doing it, etc.

It’s much easier because none of these things require a real, focused effort to get things done.

When Is The Time “Right” To Start Tackling Your Big Project?

I’ve actually got a rather Big Project I working on right now.

The problem is, I’ve been in and out of different illnesses for the last couple of months.

First one thing, then another.

It gave me a perfect excuse for putting off my Big Project.

But I didn’t put it off.

I started working on it.

Not with all the gusto I’d have liked to invest in it, but I dug in and started making some progress.

No, I couldn’t put in the 8 to 10 hour work days I’d like to have.

In fact, some days I really couldn’t do anything at all.

But when I did muster some energy, I’d work a half an hour… maybe an hour, sometimes two.

That wasn’t a big deal in terms of time, but it was very big deal in terms of knowing that I was engaged in getting this thing done.

No matter what.

Now, here’s the thing you really need to understand.

I started this Big Project when I was pretty sick, and had hardly energy to devote to it.

Avoid Taking On The “Big Project” or Trying To Fulfill Your “Big Dreams”

How was I able to start on something so big, when I was feeling pretty miserable?

The answer is that I didn’t tackle “The Big Project.”

I couldn’t even begin to think like that.

What I did tend to, though, were many of the little things that I was actually able to do.

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These were the little things that I knew had to get done in order for this Big Project to get completed.

It’s kind of like this.

============ ============

Suppose you’ve committed to going on a hundred mile hike, and you’ve never done anything like that before… how do you get started?

You think of lots of reasons to put it off, like waiting for better weather, until you’re more rested, or whatever.

You could put it off forever, right?

Or, you could just start off one day with the first mile.

Now maybe you find this to be just intolerable.

But you’ve committed to it, so you’ve got to persevere.

You stop for lunch.

Then you walk another mile to a hotel, take a hot shower and just hang out there for a day or two.

Then you might go another 3 miles, etc.

I mean, it’s not the best way to do it.

Other folks will finish their 100 miles long before you do.

But if you really know that 100 mile trek is something you need to do, you could start putting little pieces of it together until you’ve actually done it.

All 100 miles of it!

And at the end of the day, your hike took you the same 100 miles that it did all the other people who may have been a lot better equipped for it than you were.

When Is The Right Time To Start Your Big Project?

Probably never.

The time is never “right” so don’t even wait for it to be.

But you can start doing the little things that will contribute to it’s completion right now… today… this very minute, in fact.

That makes “today” the right time to start your big project.

Always.

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I’ll tell you a short story of something that actually happened to me.

============ ============

I had a huge banquet to put together for 40 people who were coming to my house for an event.

How do I put together this huge banquet?

I’d never done anything like this before, so I really didn’t know how to get this Big Project done.

I could have just keep putting it off until I ran out of time, and people would be walking through my front door and I’d have nothing prepared.

Instead, I just started chopping some garlic for a while.

I wasn’t exactly sure why. I figured everything tastes

better with garlic, so I’d probably need some.

A bit later, I made up some some veggies dishes and put them in the fridge.

The next day I made a casserole and froze it.

By the time I got to the “big day” I had all the pieces set up.

I only had to put them together, set the table and wait for the bell to ring.

How Long Are You Willing To Put Off Your Big Dreams?

Big Dreams are vague.

They’re not well defined, and you probably don’t have much of an idea of how to go about making them happen, right?

Big Dreams are typically made up of a bunch of Big Projects that will bring your dreams to fruition.

But you have to get to work on the first Big Project.

  • You can put it off.
  • You can wait for “the right time.”
  • You can watch and see how others are doing it.
  • You can come up with a million reasons to put it off…

… because let’s face it.

Nobody wants to start some big, scary undertaking, especially when they hardly even know what it will entail.

Or, you can just decide that today, you’ll do one little thing that will contribute in even the tiniest way to eventually accomplishing your Big Project.

You can simply roll up your sleeves, dig in, and put in a full hour of productive time to complete one specific task.

The next day you can spend another hour and complete another tiny little task.

If you did this for a month, you’d have put at least 30 hours into completing that Big Project.

Now, honestly, if you didn’t do all those little things for a month, you’d still be nowhere.

Chances are, you’d have decided the project was just too big for you to do by then.

Or you might just keep kicking the can down the road until 6 months later, when you’d find yourself still trying to find “the right moment” to get started.

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Have you reached you big dreams yet?

Do you have success getting those big projects done?

Do you agree with me that “it’s the little things that big dreams are made of?”

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

And please share this article on your social sites 🙂

-Donna

Donna Merrill
Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.

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68 Responses to It’s The Little Things That Big Dreams Are Made Of

  1. Jennifer Giacoppo
    Twitter:
    February 18, 2016 at 9:31 pm #

    Dear Donna,
    this is such a wonderful topic and one that people can hopefully grasp into their reality.
    People often do think about their dreams as Big and of course they are. But sometimes that word BIG can make us feel like-Too much hard work . Or just too GRANDE.

    Sometimes I think we can feel like our Dream is too big for us.
    But I love what you have done here, you have put into perspective for people how to take the BIGNESS out of things.

    I think people forget that all the little steps make the bigness. It’s just one foot infront of the other really-and that’s how we get there.

    Love it Donna and I shared it to all my wonderful groups because this is a mandatory read-Jennifer
    Jennifer Giacoppo recently posted..Upsells can push your customers away.My Profile

  2. Leslie Denning
    Twitter:
    February 17, 2016 at 8:22 pm #

    Hi Donna. I’m glad you are getting back on your feet, health-wise. It’s no fun to feel awful.

    But like you say, if you don’t take that first step on the path, you’ll never get there. Being self-employed is difficult because the.re’s no one to tell you what to do. 🙂

    I’m a pianist, and I can’t tell you how many people say, “I wish I could play like that”. Outside I’m saying ‘thank you’, and inside I’m saying, ;No you wouldn’t, unless you are willing to take years of lessons and practice 1-4 hours a day.’

    I wasn’t born knowing how to play the piano. I learned a few notes, and then more. I learned what to do with my fingers on simple things and then progressed to harder things.

    Most things in life are like that, and you are right – little steps eventually lead to great progress. Thanks so much for this post.

    All the best,
    Leslie Denning
    Leslie Denning recently posted..Having Skin in the GameMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 27, 2016 at 11:41 pm #

      Hi Leslie,

      I just left a reply to Joy’s comment that pretty much addresses what you’re saying here.

      You wouldn’t get far toward being an accomplished pianist without great teachers who take you by the hand to show you what to do, and who lay out the specific course you’ll need to follow to make it happen.

      Now, YOU have to practice and follow the advice and lessons… but somebody had to show you what to practice to begin with.

      This is why I always tell people looking to make money online, blog successfully or run any kind of profitable online business… hire a good coach who can take you by the hand and show you what to do before you waste lots of time and money doing the wrong thing.

      I am a coach, so I might have a slanted point of view here, but as a coach I can tell you I see far better results, and far faster from those of my students who advance to also become my coaching clients.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Put Screen Capture Video On Your Blog | And WhyMy Profile

  3. Joy Healey
    Twitter:
    February 14, 2016 at 2:56 pm #

    Hi Donna

    Glad you’re getting “back on your horse” – that’s a family saying, but I’m sure you’ll understand the wishes behind it.

    I read in a book – POSSIBLY “Getting things done” by David Allen – that the one good way to get started on a big project you’re putting off, is to tell yourself you’ll just do 5 minutes on it. Apparently the human mind is “wired” so that once we have started something we really want to complete it. It’s just the getting started that’s the tricky bit.

    Like your garlic chopping!

    It works for me, and hope it’ll be a helpful tip for others too.

    Because I’m a part-time Internet Marketer I find it very difficult to put aside big chunks of time to achieve big projects, but I make sure I do a little something towards my online business every day, even if it’s just a bit of blog commenting.

    Take care – and don’t overdo it!

    Joy

    • Donna Merrill February 27, 2016 at 11:35 pm #

      Hi Joy,

      I know many, many people who have made a full time income with a part time online business.

      It’s not so much about doing lots and lots of things requiring buckets of investment cash… it’s more that you need to be doing the right things… consistently.

      How do you know what the “right thing” is so you’re not wasting hours, weeks, months and years getting nowhere? That’s why I always try to get people to get coaching early on. It’s really the only way to make the right things happen.

      After all, if you wanted to be a mechanical engineer, would you just go to the public library and start reading books? Or would you enroll in a strict course of study where mentors and teachers take you sequentially through each step you’ll need to take to be able to build a successful career in your chosen field?

      I think it’s something everyone trying to “make money online” should consider very carefully, and as early on as possible.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Put Screen Capture Video On Your Blog | And WhyMy Profile

  4. Mary Sloane
    Twitter:
    February 14, 2016 at 1:41 pm #

    Great post Donna

    I have always managed big projects with a plan and getting small things done definitely results in any project getting completed.

    I find online it feels like the projects are so time sensitive that I never have the time I need even though I could break it down, so I’m looking at how to streamline those projects.

    To the top

    Mary

    • Donna Merrill February 27, 2016 at 11:25 pm #

      Hi Mary,

      Looking for a way to streamline your process is important.

      If you let things “look” big and unmanageable, you’ll quickly feel overwhelmed and defeated even if things are not nearly as difficult as you might believe.

      So create a system you can stay committed to, and then commit to it 🙂

      Sounds simple and it is. Easy? No. It takes work and work is never easy… but it’s certainly rewarding.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Put Screen Capture Video On Your Blog | And WhyMy Profile

  5. Edward Thorpe
    Twitter:
    February 14, 2016 at 12:42 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Brilliant post about conquering the inner beast of fear of failure. You’re so right that putting off a ‘big project’ is much easier to rationalize, than is not doing smaller jobs.

    When I’m faced with something I’m kinda scared of tackling, I remind myself that if someone else could do it, somehow, so can I. Helps me.

    Sorry about your health. Really impressed with your discipline, though!
    Thanks,
    Edward
    Edward Thorpe recently posted..A List Of ListsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 27, 2016 at 10:07 pm #

      Hi Edward,

      You certainly can scare yourself out of starting those big projects.

      I like your mindset, though… if someone else can do it, so can you!

      It’s just a matter of sitting down and getting the ball rolling.

      Motion is the key, stagnation will just make you feel more and more like you can’t… and so you won’t.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Put Screen Capture Video On Your Blog | And WhyMy Profile

  6. Brent Jones
    Twitter:
    February 10, 2016 at 10:33 am #

    Ooh… Donna, you’re on the money with this post.

    I loved your banquet example where you started by just chopping some garlic… that made me grin, and I just might start using it as a metaphor.

    “Today I’m going to chop the garlic,” I’ll say to myself.

    You’ve probably heard…

    “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.”

    ^ And it’s so true.

    Big jobs are really just a bunch of little jobs crammed into a bigger picture. And no matter how slowly we tackle those little jobs (like your hiking example), we’re still ahead of everyone who didn’t start.

    Will share this out now! How motivating!

    Brent
    Brent Jones recently posted..11 Different Types of Freelance Jobs & How to Price ThemMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 15, 2016 at 11:59 am #

      Hi Brent,

      So glad you found this to be motivating, and thanks for sharing it out!

      I think I have a copyright on the garlic idea, but I’ll let you use it, lol.

      I like the quote about 1,000 miles starting with a single step.

      Thanks for pitching in here today.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Start A Blog On WordPress – And WhyMy Profile

  7. Dr. Elise Cohen Ho
    Twitter:
    February 9, 2016 at 10:22 am #

    I absolutely agree that it is the little things that make up the big things. I often refer to the wonderful Kris Kringle song “”Put One Foot in Front of the Other” because it sums it all up so beautifully.
    Dr. Elise Cohen Ho recently posted..Saturday Sex TalkMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 14, 2016 at 9:34 pm #

      Hi Elise,

      Yes, one foot in front of the other can take us a full block, a mile, or half way around the world. It’s up to us how consistently and purposefully we are committed to doing it.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Start A Blog On WordPress – And WhyMy Profile

  8. Yusuff Busayo
    Twitter:
    February 9, 2016 at 8:09 am #

    Hi, Donna,

    True, it’s easy to keep putting off those Big Projects, waiting for a perfect time to fix them. But in truth, perfect times never come.

    Of this truth I am so aware because I have been beleaguered by procrastination so many times. I have often passed up huge project opportunities worth lots of money because “it wouldn’t just fit into my time” and “It came at the time I didn’t feel like doing anything”.

    One of the mantras I’m using to crush that habit now is this: ” Procrastination is the close cousin of laziness. And proactivity, a perfect definition of hard work”.

    Harsh, but it’s the truth.

    So when I’m stalling or dawdling, I know it’s procrastination taking me over. And that’s directly tantamount to laziness, in truth.

    Yes, I had spells of sicknesses too last year (and still recovering this year). Whats funny though is that I stole minutes to work on some writing projects here and there, and they have added up to a lot of successes for me today.

    Recently, I practiced taking baby steps to achieving big goal I’ve wanted to, and I finally hit it. Then I found that no matter how huge a project is, I should always figure a way to start biting it in chunks. A bit here and a bit there, and the project will be done.

    Thanks for the share, Donna. Nice to finally be on your blog for the first time.

    And thanks for the comment you left on my guest post I published on Sherman Smith’s blog.


    – Yusuff Busayo

    Yusuff Busayo recently posted..[Experttease #3]: James McAllister, On Making Full-Time Income OnlineMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 13, 2016 at 8:22 pm #

      Hi Yusuff,

      Nice to have you on my blog for the first time!

      Procrastination and Perfection are probably the two biggest killers of online success. And they’re closely related. You want something to be perfect, so it never gets done because guess what… it will Never be perfect.

      I like your mantra for overcoming procrastination, and I’m sure we can all benefit from reciting that one. so thanks for sharing it here.

      I’m glad to see you took enough little bite size chunks to get that Big Project of yours done. Congrats!

      Now you’ve got 2 things to do… 1. Keep up the great work, and 2. come back to visit my blog often, hehe

      Good luck as you move along through 2016 Yusuff.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Start A Blog On WordPress – And WhyMy Profile

  9. Don Purdum
    Twitter:
    February 8, 2016 at 1:02 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    What an inspiring and powerful article. I’m having a “How did you know?” moment over here!

    I’ve had an incredible two years and step-by-step I’ve been adding new things… for example in the last week I redesigned and moved my site over to WordPress, added heatmaps, and I’ve added email opt-in pop-up’s.

    The results have been nothing short of stellar!

    I had a great list already but it’s adding between 10-15 per day. Isn’t that cool?

    I digress, lol…

    Until last week I didn’t want to do a “big project” but what I have recently realized is that I’ve been asking people to marry me and I haven’t even taken them out for coffee.

    So, I’m creating a huge video training series that walk people through the entire process I take a client through 1-on-1.

    I have come to realize that some can do it on their own if they have the structure. Most cannot but by buying an affordable step-by-step process they can learn that for themselves and now they have a reason to reach out and by the bigger coaching or consulting programs.

    It’s a great way to offer them a sales funnel that starts with free… inexpensive… expensive

    They get to decide and they get my expertise at a rate they afford.

    It just wasn’t happening though because I was waiting for the “right time”… No more waiting Donna.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Have an awesome week my friend!!!!

    ~ Don Purdum
    Don Purdum recently posted..How to Discover Passion, Influence People and Increase SalesMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 9, 2016 at 12:42 am #

      Hi Don,

      It’s good to see you “make your move” with your current big project.

      As we both know, though, it’s not a single big move that will make it happen, it’s all the little tedious things involved in production, promotion, post production, and so many pieces in the big puzzle.

      But like a puzzle, if any one piece… even the smallest and seemingly least significant… is missing… the puzzle doesn’t work… or something like that haha…

      Keep pushing forward, my friend. It’s always worth the effort and the persistence.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  10. Sylviane Nuccio
    Twitter:
    February 8, 2016 at 8:44 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Sorry for being so late here, but I’m glad I did come because what you’re saying is so true.

    We, as humans, just love to put things off, and we always have great excuses for it.

    I’ll do it when…

    But the best time to start a big new project is NOW, and as you said, it doesn’t really matter how many hours we are going to put into it, as long as we start and put as much time as we can.

    It’s always better to start slow now than to wait the big moment that may or may not come.

    Congratulations on your new venture, and I’m glad that you are feeling much better.

    ~Sylviane
    Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..How To Be A Thriving Single Mom FinanciallyMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 9, 2016 at 12:35 am #

      Hi Sylviane,

      I have to agree that “the big moment” not only may or may not come, but if we put all our eggs in that basket it almost certainly will NEVER come.

      Big moments are made of little achievements that we strive to accomplish day after day. That’s where it really happens.

      Most “overnight success” stories we see are rooted in years and years of dogged effort and multiple failures.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  11. Ravi Roshan Jaiswal
    Twitter:
    February 8, 2016 at 12:55 am #

    Hello Donna!
    Awesome advice!

    This is first time for me on your site. It is the little things that big dreams are made of! What a wonderful and inspirational post and it is written only for me.

    We do not care about small task which helps to get the big dream and this is our mistake so on. Definitely it is not easy to accomplish little task but these little task are very important for achieving our big dreams.

    We shouldn’t think about that when this task should be accomplished, on the contrary of we should think that first of all this work should be complete, then other work.

    It is easy to see dreams but difficult to get the dream’s seen.

    Hope you will come back with some more idea…

    Thanks once again!
    – Ravi
    Ravi Roshan Jaiswal recently posted..10 Health Benefits of GingerMy Profile

  12. Mark
    Twitter:
    February 7, 2016 at 8:13 pm #

    Well does this scenario sound all too familiar Donna!

    And really, sometimes it doesn’t matter what size the project is,
    because we just naturally seem to find one
    lame excuse after another, to put off what needs to be done.

    I love the way you organized your cooking project,
    into very doable pint sized, and extremely reachable goals!

    Gradualness seems to be the way to go, when our goals just seem far too
    overwhelming to comprehend!

    Thank for sharing an extremely practical guide!
    Mark recently posted..Why It’s Critically Important Savvy Entrepreneurs Know The Real Cost To Acquire A Customer!Part FourMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 9, 2016 at 12:19 am #

      Hi Mark,

      Yea, I guess “gradualness” is as good a term as any to describe the way forward. ha ha

      I guess I call it consistency.

      Whatever we call it, the point is to keep things moving forward. Don’t ever use the excuse that the task you undertake is too small to make much difference. It will make “a difference” no matter how small. Enough of those small advances can create huge results over time.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  13. Kathryn Maclean
    Twitter:
    February 7, 2016 at 5:53 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Yes I do agree with you
    “it’s the little things that big dreams are made of?”

    “How do you eat an elephant” came to mind reading this. The answer is of course ” one bite at a time”

    I liked your statement -put in a full hour of productive time to complete one specific task
    another task the next day. This is the way small business works these days. People are busy and
    they want to accomplish their big dreams. Little by little and they will become a reality.

    Some times an illness is a blessing, it makes us more aware of life. Take care my friend.

    .

    • Donna Merrill February 9, 2016 at 1:51 am #

      Hi Kathryn,

      I always like the elephant story, hehe..

      People are so busy, like you say, and they usually are looking for ways to make money. It’s not easy to get a JOB, so they think the internet is an easy way to help pay the bills.

      It’s true, but it doesn’t happen in a day. The big dreams take a lot of little tasks. But people are impatient. It’s funny. They’ll work a part time job and get a few bucks a week, and then they figure out how much it adds up to at the end of the month, the end of the year etc.

      But when they start an online business, they don’t want the small profits to accumulate.. Somehow, they want a bizillion dollar business to happen in a few weeks. So they have no patience for doing the little things over a sustained period of time.

      It’s a funny thing, but not so funny to see how many people really operate through that mindset.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  14. Erika Mohssen-Beyk
    Twitter:
    February 7, 2016 at 1:54 pm #

    Hi Donna ,
    great post like always,nice to see you back 🙂
    It is true, all the great teachers on goal setting say:
    you do need to know the Why, not the How,take baby steps
    and learn on your way,all will unfold and it will get you to the goal.
    The right time is right now only Action is needed.
    Thank you
    Erika
    Erika Mohssen-Beyk recently posted..The Chicken and the Eagle Story – Self AwarenessMy Profile

  15. Joan M Harrington
    Twitter:
    February 6, 2016 at 6:32 pm #

    Hi Donna 🙂

    Indeed, it is in the “little” things that we create those “big” things that we want to achieve 🙂

    Doing those little things over time certainly will help you to achieve those much bigger things and that is ultimately what we want to do. So for me, I try and do a few little things daily and eventually I know, it will lead me to that one big thing that I want 🙂 Reaching my ultimate goal!

    Great post! Always enjoy your post my friend, thank you for sharing 🙂
    Joan M Harrington recently posted..Do You Know How To Write Content With Substance?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 7, 2016 at 12:18 am #

      Hi Joan,

      You’ve got a good plan in place. Make it a habit to do certain things every single day that will work toward achieving your big project down the road.

      If you do that consistently, you won’t really need to try to “accomplish” your big project, it will simply get done. Less stress, less hand wringing… it just gets done.

      Day by day 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  16. PJ Zafra
    Twitter:
    February 5, 2016 at 6:44 pm #

    Hey there Donna,

    What a great post. I absolutely agree with you on this one. Growing up, I’ve learned that the small things always matter. Once piled up, they sometimes even matter more than the big things. The small things are something that we must never take for granted because they have the power to create big changes.

    One example is telling a child that his/her dreams matter. It may seem like a small gesture to us, but to that child, he/she could remember and believe in that for years to come. I know I’ve been affected in a positive way with small gestures over the years.

    That’s why I always love encouraging myself to do small yet helpful things for other people because small things matter. Most of the time, people tend to miss it.

    I enjoyed reading your post. Keep up the great work. Thank you. 🙂

    PJ Zafra
    PJ Zafra recently posted..How To Stay Calm Under Pressure – 4 Effective Brain HacksMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 7, 2016 at 12:08 am #

      Hi PJ,

      Little things do really make a big difference in our lives, every day.

      Just think of a smile, a touch, somebody holding the door for you, or letting you squeeze into their lane on a busy highway.

      These are small enough things, but they can make a big difference in your day.

      The same thing is true in our business. Taking small steps each day, makes a huge difference in our success over 6 months or a year.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  17. Mi Muba
    Twitter:
    February 5, 2016 at 12:46 pm #

    Hi Donna

    Very inspirational post indeed. It reminds me the famous quote that says it is the first step that eventually leads you to the final destination so never shy to take the first step howsoever small it is.

    It is the dilemma of many bloggers that in search of perfection they defer their plans though they can do them perfectly once they take the first step to start executing them.

    Done is far better than perfection should be the real motto of every blogger because a blogger is neither a teacher nor a creative artist; he just helps people to make their dreams come true by whatever they have and by a little improving them.

    Many thanks for sharing this very motivational post.

    Have a great weekend ahead.
    Mi Muba recently posted..10 sensual ways to know the product your blog readers badly wantMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 6, 2016 at 11:47 pm #

      Hi Mi Muba,

      I like your “first step” quote. So true.

      As you say, rather than shooting for perfection, bloggers (and all internet marketers) should understand that “done is far better than perfection.” Whatever it takes to improve peoples’ lives… that’s all that matters.

      It doesn’t have to be pretty, it certainly doesn’t have to be perfect… but it must get “done” in order to be useful to our readers.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  18. ikechi
    Twitter:
    February 5, 2016 at 10:36 am #

    Hi Donna

    I talked about this topic recently which I sent to my email list.

    I was so inspired by this posts because I have made this mistake before. You are right that Big dreams are achieved by doing little things. It is little actions that we take that makes a whole lot of difference.

    I like to take little steps when taking a large project and I even apply this when I do my chores. I don’t like to make it so big that I am overwhelmed by the tasks. I have got big projects this year and I have had to break the tasks into little actions

    I love your story and I do know that this post will help everyone who is using an excuse of big projects to not take any action.

    Have a swell weekend. Take Care

    • Donna Merrill February 6, 2016 at 8:44 pm #

      Hi Ikechi,

      I totally agree that you need to make your tasks manageable so that they actually get done. As you say, if you don’ t do that, you risk becoming overwhelmed. When that happens, as you and I both know… nothing gets done.

      I’m sure you’ll get your big projects done this year… One step at a time 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  19. Peter Beckenham
    Twitter:
    February 5, 2016 at 7:17 am #

    Hello Donna,

    The title of this post really and truly grabbed my attention and my curiousity.

    So many times in my life I faced the option of undertaking big projects and I’ve lost count of the times these projects (and probably opportunities) never eventuated. The main reason was I could always come up with a “rational” reason not to get started.

    So your post really put me in a reflective mode as I pondered the lost opportunities I may have had.

    I realize that in order to successfully complete any project we have to break it down into more manageable pieces. But despite all the planning it can still be a huge undertaking.

    Then I remembered that whenever I was faced with a big project thatwas important to me, it was always much easier to get started if I just looked at it one step at a time. Then it was easy to take that first step and get things going.

    Thanks for the share Donna – very practical advice and I hope you are on the way to a full recovery.

    Best wishes from a remote Thai village blogger

    Peter
    Peter Beckenham recently posted..8 Ways to Get More Blog ReadersMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 6, 2016 at 8:15 pm #

      Hi Peter,

      You’re not alone in having left dreams and projects unfulfilled… sometimes having never even given them a try.

      I think this is one of the big reasons that we should heed the advice of most successful people… do something you love… work from your passion.

      When it gets time to get past the whiteboard and checklist, and actually start “doing” something… you’ll always gravitate toward doing things your passionate about. Things you have just talked yourself into being “important” somehow end up on the “undone” pile.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  20. Dee Ann Rice
    Twitter:
    February 4, 2016 at 1:21 pm #

    Donna,

    I definitely agree with you. Big projects are really hard to start and really easy to put off.

    I love all of your reasons for not starting a big project right now. I have thought of all of those and more. I think my favorite is I can not start it now because I need at least 4 hours in a block to even get anything done.

    In order to not procrastinate on a big project I have tried to break the project down into a list of small tasks. Then if I only have a small amount of time I can pick one of the small tasks and do it. This way I can check things off my list of small tasks and eventually I actually achieve getting the big project done.

    Another thing that works well for me it to make it really easy to sit down and work on the project.  Depending on the project I will clear a space and set everything out on a table so I can sit down and work for a few minutes here and there. I don’t have to get everything out and put it away each time.

    I am actually supposed to be working on a big project for my blog right now and am not getting it done for many of the reasons you stated. My biggest hurdle is to have somewhere that I can work on it without having to set everything up each time. I have an office that I can use. I can leave my computer set up and shut the door so I can have quiet to record videos if only the office was not a mess. Our house is really small so everyone tends to clean the house into the office. I have let it get a mess so now I have lost my spot. I know my first chore to getting my large project done is to clean the office so I can work in there once again. It seems like there always seems to be something more pressing. I guess I need to put that on the top of my to do list and get it done.

    Great post and it really applied to me. I am going to get my big project started and done beginning with cleaning my office.

    Dee Ann
    Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Reasons To Hire A CoachMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 6, 2016 at 7:42 pm #

      Hi Dee Ann,

      I like the check list system. It shows you at a glance, all the things that need to be done to complete your project. Then you just have to keep checking things off, and voila… it’s done 🙂

      You just have to be sure that each component is small enough that it can be done in a relatively short period of time.

      I like to make each of my “components” big enough to move me forward, but not so big that I can’t get it done in one sitting… whether that be a one hour or a 3 hour “sitting”…

      The point is, I don’t like to start a task then leave it half done. I like it to be done, so next time I sit down to work I can move forward with my “next step” instead of picking up the pieces on half done things.

      PS: It’s nice to have an office to lay things out, as you say, but if not… maybe you can find a drawer or a box or something where you can keep your project items all together for when you can pull them out.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  21. Brenda Pace
    Twitter:
    February 4, 2016 at 12:06 pm #

    Hey Donna!

    Sometimes you give me just the right pep talk to get my mojo going! 🙂 I’ve recently decided that there isn’t a “right time” but a “do it or forget about it” time. I pushing forward towards one of my dreams, which in the long run, will turn into a big dream. The timing may never be right so we need to just make it happen.

    Thanks for sharing such inspiration!

    Bren
    Brenda Pace recently posted..Is the Time Ever Right to Build Your Freelance Business?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 6, 2016 at 6:29 pm #

      Hi Bren,

      You are so right my dear.

      There’s no “right time” only the present. What we do today is totally in our control.

      What we failed to do yesterday is pointless in even thinking about.

      What we do tomorrow will depend wholly on what we do or fail to do today.

      So just make things happen, or as you say “forget about it.” ha ha … I like that. You make me laugh.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  22. Nataly Auger
    Twitter:
    February 4, 2016 at 2:37 am #

    Hi Donna,

    What an inspirational post!

    I also used those excuses to put off big projects, and I realized exactly what you wrote. Doing little things is better than doing nothing at all! I’m a procrastinator, so I have to use this way to start something otherwise I never start. And I often find myself doing quite a few of those little tasks once I’m started.

    That’s actually how I did my big projects when I was in school. I’d do the bibliography, then the table of contents and the rest followed. In the end, I was proud of myself for doing the entire project.

    Lately, I found myself to put off the big projects again and your post made me realized that I was using my health as excuses. I have to do it the way I did it in school and stop making excuses. Don’t do everything at once and it will seem easier.

    Thanks for this reality check! Hope your health is better! 🙂

    ~Nataly
    Nataly Auger recently posted..Discover What Your Desk Says About You (INFOGRAPHIC)My Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 4, 2016 at 4:46 pm #

      Hi Nataly,

      I’m doing better these days, but it’s a slow go still.

      Still, I keep at my tasks as much as possible, and I work at it every single day.

      That’s the way to overcome procrastination, and also the way to keep moving your game forward.

      It never seems to be enough, even when I work a 12 hour day. But you need to focus on what you CAN do, and not what you haven’t been able to get to yet.

      I like your example of getting a big paper done for school. It’s the same idea for sure. If you just keep putting pieces together, it gets done. If you keep waiting for a burst of energy, or some magical “inspiration”… you’ll probably end up pulling an all-nighter to get a fairly low quality project completed at the last possible minute.

      Online business is no different. The funny thing is, too, that as you do tiny things, the procrastination trap gets easier to deal with, and somehow, big things come from a steady drip of all those tiny things.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  23. Chery Schmidt
    Twitter:
    February 3, 2016 at 4:23 pm #

    Hello Donna, I do agree with your theory my friend Indeed, It is the little things that big dreams are made of!

    I also agree that the only way to reach those big dreams is by accomplishing those little tasks to help get you there.

    Awesome advice, Thanks for sharing.
    Chery :))

    • Donna Merrill February 4, 2016 at 1:10 pm #

      Hi Chery,

      Somehow I knew you would understand this. You sure are living the life of this theory. I have known you for a long time and see how you progress and more importantly have fun while you do.

      Love those pics lately you have posted on Facebook! Keep on having a wonderful time.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  24. Marquita Herald
    Twitter:
    February 3, 2016 at 7:23 am #

    Couldn’t agree more Donna! It really is so easy to either stall or fall into overwhelm when we focus on the BIG part of the dream and taking little steps really can make all the difference. I have a system that has worked very well for me in the past, but last fall I took on too many projects at one time and the “system” was left in the dust, and I ended up falling behind – on everything. Coming into the new year I went back to my system and while I’m still playing catch up, there is clear progress again and that feels great. I do think a tracking system is critically important when taking things one step at a time, not just so you stay focused but so you have a way of seeing your progress because that helps to keep us motivated. Thanks for the inspiration!
    Marquita Herald recently posted..Why We Love to Hate Positive ThinkingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 3, 2016 at 10:12 pm #

      Hi Marquita,

      I hear your pain about taking on too many things at once… yea, that’s what they call overwhelm for sure.

      The trick is to get on “the right path” and keep walking. But you can only take one path at a time unless you want to get ripped in half, or quarters or whatever.

      We need to work on one project at a time, always leading to achieving that Big Dream that drives all your efforts.

      I’m glad you caught yourself, and re-focused your efforts and energies. It makes a big difference, as you demonstrated here.

      Thanks for that feedback.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Who Doesn’t Want Recurring Income?My Profile

  25. Dennis Seymour
    Twitter:
    February 3, 2016 at 3:34 am #

    I’m still way off my big dreams. I’m still slowly piling along my small wins. I know it’s a marathon and not a race but I can’t wait! 🙂

    I’ve practically used all those excuses in the past and I still use them nowadays but a lot less. It helps when you read posts like this. It helps you be aware.

    Love this topic Donna! Keep it up! Keep inspiring!
    Dennis Seymour recently posted..The 2 Sides of Guest Posting: I’m on the “It Works” Side, How About You?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 3, 2016 at 9:49 pm #

      Hi Dennis,

      I think we’re all “way off” our big dreams… I guess that’s why we call them “dreams” 🙂

      Yes, it’s a marathon, as you point out, and like a marathon, it really requires that we learn to pace ourselves properly so we don’t burn out.

      The problem, of course, is that we want to get to the finish line… and sometimes we just push too hard. We need patience and perseverance.

      It’s always easier to fall back on excuses, but those who succeed find a way to get past them. As I know you do 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

      • Dennis Seymour
        Twitter:
        February 3, 2016 at 10:55 pm #

        I’m trying LOL. Definitely not the easiest to do. I plan to teach my kid the proper mindset, too. It’s better to start early. For people like me that were never really mentored to think like this, it does take a while and relapses happen.

        Keep on rocking Donna!

        • Donna Merrill February 4, 2016 at 1:08 pm #

          Hi Dennis,

          All we can do is try. If not, we are out of the race. Teaching your kid that proper mindset will be golden. Remember whatever we teach our kids it stays in their “harddrive” lol. No I too wasn’t mentored to think like this. It was the total opposite.

          As long as we acknowledge it exists in our subconscious mind, we can then self talk our way out of it. I too have those moments where “I Should” but I’ve been fighting those thoughts for years and have always been an entrepreneur.

          -Donna
          Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  26. Deepak Gera
    Twitter:
    February 3, 2016 at 2:59 am #

    Hi Donna,

    I am coming first time to your blog and I liked your post. You are absolutely right and I can relate it completely with myself. I am in IT job line and its takes me a complete day to justify my one day pay in office :). I always wanted to start something for my own and always I thought, OK lets collect all motivation levels and from coming weekend I’ll start working on my passion.

    One weekend passed then another and so on. It took around 6 months to just thinking and starting. Time is never right but attitude should be right to start anything. And we know that starting is the toughest part. But once I started, Now I came to know that not only starting, even maintaining also a toughest job.

    everyday it feels like how to get time to do for my passion and then I landed here. All we need is motivation to keep going. This is what I did and this what I wanna do. Looking into your post I am feeling better and thinking to go with my pace. It’s a long marathon and I need to break it into pieces and start walking.

    Thanks for writing this great post.

    • Donna Merrill February 3, 2016 at 8:34 pm #

      Hi Deepak,

      I’m so glad you visited my blog today, and got some inspiration from it.

      You make an interesting observation, too, that it’s not just a matter of getting something started… the harder part is really to maintain it. That means doing consistently and building some momentum.

      If you work full days, I know how hard it can be to start working toward fulfilling your dreams as an entrepreneur. While I don’t personally have a “day job”… most of my coaching clients do and we need to work out a schedule that they can reasonably maintain.

      It’s not about never sleeping again, it’s about finding what you can do, scheduling it, and like you say… maintaining it.

      It’s one reason I think coaching is so important – because it helps you be on the right track so that you’re not spending your time doing the wrong things. then you just go in circles, and probably end up giving up.

      Good luck 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Who Doesn’t Want Recurring Income?My Profile

  27. Harleena Singh
    Twitter:
    February 3, 2016 at 12:11 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Such a wonderful post, and seems it’s written just for me! 🙂

    I was nodding my head in agreement to some of those excuses, which aren’t actually excuses, but yes, various reasons and things that come in the way – and those stop the progress to achieve your target.

    Your little examples are so right – getting things done in bits is the only way you can actually accomplish a big project you have in hand. It’s tough to do it all in one go, unless you have a large team or people working for you, which most of us don’t. We also sail in the same boat, and are working our way gradually to achieve our goals – taking one thing at a time without getting overwhelmed.

    I’m so glad you’re feeling better now – yes, read about the surgery etc..life sure has it’s moments, and there were some at our end too, though different reasons, but we come through it all, don’t we?

    Thanks for the inspirational post, which would make me go and work on my project right away! Have a nice week ahead 🙂
    Harleena Singh recently posted..5 Steps To Turn Your Blog Posts Into An Online CourseMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 3, 2016 at 3:15 pm #

      Hi Harleena,

      Yes, work on that big project right away 🙂

      I think the main thing to understand here, is that when you know what you want to accomplish… you MUST create a consistent plan of action to make it happen.

      You don’t have to know everything, you don’t have to be the best in the world at what you’re doing… but you must do it!

      Every day.

      Bits and pieces.

      Put them all together from time to time, but in the meanwhile, devote a set amount of time each and every day to work on it.

      Want to write a 50 page ebook?

      Stop thinking about it.

      Write 5 pages a day… maybe that takes an hour or two, depending on your own individual pace.

      Instead of putting the project “on the back burner”… it will actually be done in 10 days if you stick to this.

      If you don’t set up a blueprint like this to work from, do you really think you’ll have a completed ebook 10 days from now?

      Want to do it in 5 days… write 10 pages a day.

      Need to go a bit slower, write 2 pages a day and you’ll have your ebook a month from now.

      It won’t be perfect… ever.

      But AFTER you’ve written it, you can pretty it up with some screen shots, photos, video or whatever. You can even edit/rewrite a bit, just don’t go crazy with that.

      In other words, step by step is how you make big things happen, as long as you actually DO the step by step 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Who Doesn’t Want Recurring Income?My Profile

  28. Corinne Kerston
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 8:12 pm #

    Hi Donna,
    This putting things off reason made me chuckle: This is my Big Project. It’s got to be absolutely perfect.

    Cause it’s so true. We want things to be perfect. But I’ve learned that good enough is well, good enough.

    And I totally agree, there’s really no right time. There’s always going to be something that comes up and if we are waiting until everything is perfect, it’s never going to happen.

    Thanks for this post. It does put things in perspective.
    Corinne Kerston recently posted..Want to Know How to Get Traffic? 8 Bloggers Share Their SecretsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 3, 2016 at 2:54 pm #

      Hi Connie,

      You’re so right. There’s never a perfect time to get to that big project. It’s like waiting for the “right time” to get married, or have a baby, or accept a job offer, or visit your grandparents.

      If you don’t just do these, things… they don’t happen, do they.

      Perfect… haha… like that will ever happen anyway.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Who Doesn’t Want Recurring Income?My Profile

  29. Corina Ramos
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 7:16 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Wow, I think I’ve used all thoes excuses at least once, not good. The one that gets repeated the most is, “I need to take more notes or do more research before I can tackle this.” Right off the bat I can see that is attributed to my fear of not being qualified enough.

    I admire your perseverance and because of that, in the end we are the ones who reap the rewards because you turn around and show us what you’ve learned or created.

    You’re right when you said no one wants to start a big project not knowing what lies ahead. I’ve put off plenty of projects but after reading this, I’m definitely going to reevaluate them. May it is time for me to roll up my sleeves and get in there. 🙂

    I completely agree with you that it’s the little things that big dreams are made of. I haven’t reached my dreams just yet but I am working hard to achieve them.

    Thank you for always providing great content for us to read and learn from! Hope you’re feeling better.

    Cori
    Corina Ramos recently posted..Food Safety: Eat Healthy Travel TipsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 2, 2016 at 8:26 pm #

      Hi Cori,

      I think you successfully answered your own question here he he. Those excuses you make is because you may feel like you are not qualified enough. But think of this my friend. You go to your doctor, he or she will never tell you what is wrong until looking up the symptoms. Ever notice that?

      Years ago, they went into their library but today they have their laptop in front of them. Is it a cheat sheet? No…just making sure because no one knows it all. On that note….go for it girl! You have been around a long time and have loads to teach others. Just do it!

      Nothing is perfect and yes, we all screw up sometimes. But the thing is we have to move forward no matter what. I too get those low self esteem attacks, but then hit myself in the head and tell myself to stop.

      Starting a big project is scary, but breaking it down to small tasks that can be done is doable. Eventually that big project is done and it’s time to tackle another one.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  30. Elise
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 6:32 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    This is my first time visiting your blog, and I’m so glad that I did.

    Good on you for tackling your big project by breaking it up into little things first. It’s especially admirable that you decided to get started with doing that even while you were feeling under the weather.

    I’m a big fan of drilling big tasks down into a little things–so much so that sometimes I have to be careful not to spend too much time in the planning process or prioritizing too many small things that can wait.

    Adrienne also brings up a great point about focusing on mastering one area first rather than spreading yourself too thin. That’s super important, even if it gets kind of boring to do day in and day out. I like to focus on 2 or 3 little things at a time, and that usually helps me gain more progress compared to when I used to try to focus on 20 things at a time.

    Thanks for the great insights, Donna, and it’s great to connect you. 🙂

    Elise

    • Donna Merrill February 2, 2016 at 8:01 pm #

      Hi Elise,

      Welcome to my blog. Breaking down tasks is great…I do it all the time. Feeling under the weather did get under my skin because I couldn’t move forward. But for the few lucid moments I had I spent on business. That was good medicine for me.

      Indeed, I agree with Adrienne because we cannot spread ourselves out too thin. We need to master one area at a time.

      Oh my gosh 20 things at a time? Girl it’s great to know you knocked that down! Now I’m sure you are more productive.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  31. Adrienne
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 3:39 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    I was just on a podcast yesterday and the guy made SO much sense. Although it was more about moving forward with your business I think the same thing really relates.

    What he basically said, and of course what you’re saying here too is, don’t take on everything darn it. You can’t be everywhere and do everything and expect to get great results in all areas. You need to concentrate on one thing you want to master and dive in head first and learn it darn it. No matter how long it takes. Just do it and that’s the same thing about our big projects.

    We’re all going to have some that we’ll need to do in order to keep moving forward. Even if you can only devote a little time each day to learning or doing it has to be done. You’ll never complete it or get to the end if you don’t keep taking one step in front of the other.

    Sure, we can all throw our hands up and make some type of excuse but where will that get you right! Just do it darn it, you’ll appreciate the experience and reward for having accomplished that for sure.

    I sure hope you’re doing much better now young lady. I’m so sorry you had issues recently and I for one hate to be sick. It’s hard to get things done when you don’t feel well. Just keeping you in my prayers.

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted..3 Reasons Blog Commenting Is Still Important TodayMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 2, 2016 at 7:57 pm #

      Hi Adrienne,

      I first would like to thank you for keeping me in your prayers. It has been a tough month. I hate being sick because for me it’s a waste of time he he he. But I learned a lot while I sat there all loopy. Instead of throwing a pity party or making excuses why I couldn’t keep up. I barely did and when I had fifteen minutes or an hour or two that I felt good, I devoted it to my business.

      Things don’t happen overnight as we both know. And when we keep on moving forward no matter what, great things happen. Sometimes we even want to throw in the towel….I remember that blog a while ago when you felt that way. But instead you turned it around and became more successful.

      Indeed, we do need to concentrate on one thing like you mentioned and keep on going with no excuses.

      Thanks for coming by and have a great week.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  32. Monisha
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 3:28 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I completely agree- It is the little things that big dreams are made of!
    I know I personally get wrapped up in how big something can be that I find every excuse in the book not to do it. I completely agree with you- its taking the small steps that lead up to the “big thing” that allow us to stay motivated and continue towards our goal.

    You’re most definitely an inspiration Donna- even though you weren’t well, you kept on going!

    Thank You for this wonderful post!
    Best
    Monisha

    • Donna Merrill February 2, 2016 at 7:52 pm #

      Hi Monisha,

      Sometimes when things seem bigger than life and we cannot imagine ourselves doing something, we do need to step back. Then write down those little things we have done. As we do, the list does get quite long. It can be an inspiration for us to keep on going.

      Yes, being loopy for weeks was a struggle. But because my business is me, any time I felt good, I did whatever I could. It’s all in the mindset!

      -Donna

  33. Chris DeeWaard
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 3:18 pm #

    Hi Donna.

    Another great post.

    I believe one of the reasons why people never get the “big project” started, never mind completing it, is because they don’t take the time to think through every task needed to make it happen. They end up getting lost about where to begin and nothing gets done.

    If they only take the time to think about the completed project, they can then break it down, reverse engineer it, into the tasks that will need to be done. They can then actually get more done and before they know it, they will have completed that “big project” probably in less time than they thought it would’ve taken them.

    As we know though, people like to make excuses. Problem with that is, they will always make the excuses and then wonder why nothing gets done.

    Like we’ve all mentioned in one of our posts or another, action needs to be taken, Without taking action, nothing IS guaranteed.

    The successful people online and offline got there by doing all the little things they needed to do to get to where they are today. They didn’t just sit on their butts and wonder what could’ve been. They just did it!!

    Thanks for this post.

    Kudos for continuing to take action while you are recovering.

    Talk to you soon……Chris
    Chris DeeWaard recently posted..Walk The Walk! Don’t Talk The Talk!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 2, 2016 at 7:50 pm #

      Hi Chris,

      Indeed successful people online and offline got there by doing all those little things needed to be done. Even when I had my offline business, I did those “little things” and it made a huge difference in my business.

      I hear so many “excuses” every day when I talk to people. “I can’t” I don’t have time, Is this a guarantee things will work?” Oh my gosh! I should write a post of excuses one day. he he he

      There are no guarantees in life. It is all up to us.

      When I was recovering and had moments of clarity I opened my computer. My mind started to think this will never get done, but then I remembered that “slow and easy wins the race”

      Thanks for coming by!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

  34. James McAllister
    Twitter:
    February 2, 2016 at 2:29 pm #

    Hi Donna!

    This post really got me thinking, but that seems to be a recurring habit when I visit here. 🙂

    I think back to the pyramid graphic you shared a few weeks back on organizing goals, because that’s really how I structure my own and my whole life is structured around achieving the big dream – becoming financially independent so I can work as little as I want and spend as much time as possible with my future children.

    But pyramids are built from the bottom up. To reach the big dream, I need to acquire a certain amount of money by a certain time. To do that, I take on big projects – starting businesses, creating products, etc.

    For those to be successful, it’s all those little things that add up over time, that build the foundation for the next blocks to be placed on. This blog comment. The forum posts. The social media updates. The emails I send out. They all add up, and give me room to keep building the next layer on this metaphorical pyramid.

    I run an eCommerce business outside of IM and while it’s still relatively new, we’re moving thousands of products a month and growing rapidly. It’s tedious work, but as I sit there labeling and packaging items, I keep telling myself that one day, this will all be worth it. I envision myself doing something special with my children and thinking back to the times right now, appreciative of the fact that I worked so hard, knowing that the life I have and the time I have with them is owed to the fact that I put so much work in now.

    I can’t wait.

    Thanks Donna, thinking through what you’ve shared here really brightened up my day!
    James McAllister recently posted..You Wouldn’t Believe How Blogging Has Transformed My LifeMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill February 2, 2016 at 7:44 pm #

      Hi James,

      Glad I got you thinking again. Hey I’m also happy you remembered that pyramid from a past blog post. Indeed, it takes a lot of “little things” over a period of time to achieve that big goal….the dream!

      You do tons of work and believe me, it is adding up. It is just layer upon layer in that pyramid.

      I’m getting my hands into e-commerce also….like I have the time? HA I’m making it because it is a fantastic way to monetize. I look at my business like I look at my financial planning. I cannot put all the money the the bank, that’s crazy! It has to be invested in various things. This is how business must be also.

      Yes, I create products, coach, do WSO’s, but if I have a few hours to spare, I’m into something else too. Yes layering that pyramid.

      I think it’s in our blood. Being sick with the flu, I spent every energy surge working on my business.

      It’s in your blood too and you are so far ahead than the masses.

      Cheers!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Add Recurring Income To Your Online BusinessMy Profile

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