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Inspiration

Micro actions, macro results

ver the years, our contributing writers have What could a micro action be?
shared much wisdom about goals ‒ how to
set them and how to achieve them. We all The types of possible micro actions are legion. Let's say
O know that attaining a big, long-term goal your desk is so messy you feel disgruntled when you
necessitates breaking it into smaller goals, which serve as enter your office. You can't even find your to-do list amid
milestones on the way toward the end goal. We also know the papers covering the surface. One micro-action could
that to reach even the first, small goal requires action. be to straighten a small section of your desk ‒ one square
Thus, people often list the steps required to reach each foot or less ‒ and stop. Then do the same every day until
milestone. you've organized your entire desk, one micro-step at a
time.
As often happens in business and in life, however, we are
all stronger in some areas than others. Also, conditions Or maybe you've received several referrals from satisfied
can change, for example, you might come down with merchants but haven't pursued them because you've spent
the flu and lose a week of work, or your ISO might be all your sales time recently courting a major retailer. You
acquired by a larger ISO with an entirely different way of fear it's been so long since you received the referrals,
doing business, and you've received no guidance on how they've probably grown cold. An initial micro step could
the new system works. be to set your timer for ten minutes and read up on one of
the prospects. On day two, analyze the information you
It's different for each of us, but these kinds of things can gathered. The next day consider three ways you can help
throw us off our game or sometimes even prevent us from the merchant; the following day, phone the individual to
jumping in at all. So what can you do if you're stuck in one make an appointment.
area of your business?
Here's a word of caution from Nelli Lähteenmäki, Aleksi
It helps to remember the age-old wisdom of Lao Tzu, Hoffman and Nora Rosendahl, founders of You-app, a
who said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with company that strives to empower users to become happier,
one step." And one way to put that into action is to take a healthier versions of themselves through daily micro-
micro-step: identify one ridiculously easy thing you can actions: "Don't do it all at once. Pick one, try it consistently
do that will take you one increment toward your next for a week, and feel the difference! If you like it, keep it up
milestone. until it feels effortless. Then pick another."

"Micro-actions are like magic," wrote business consultant
and leadership coach Rene Burgett, owner of 3R Coach in
Nashville. "The moment you commit to action, no matter
how small, you put your goal in motion. You tell the
universe, 'I'm ready to make things happen.'"
Kate Gillespie, President and CEO

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