Don't Miss the Small Wins

Working toward a big goal can make it easy to overlook the small wins along the way. I catch myself doing this all the time. I finish something I have been working on, solve a problem, or learn a new skill, and almost immediately I am thinking about what I need to do next. There is always another project, another deadline, or another problem that needs to be solved.

At Mettle Ops, we work on some projects that can take months or even years to complete. When you are only focused on the finished product, it can sometimes feel like you aren’t making much progress. When you stop to look back and a problem that used to take hours to figure out now takes minutes. A machine you once knew nothing about has become part of your normal day. The ease of using new software has become fast, efficient and now an everyday part of your job. Something that seemed difficult six months ago is now something you can teach someone else how to do.

That is progress, I think we sometimes expect growth to come from big moments. A promotion. Finishing a major project. Reaching a big goal. Those moments matter, but most growth happens through the small things we do every day. It comes from making mistakes and learning from it. Asking a question. Helping a coworker. Finding a better way or more efficient way to do something. Taking on a responsibility that you weren’t sure you were ready for. Those small wins can stack up and begin to compound.

This applies outside of work as well. We are always working toward something in life. It could be becoming a better husband or wife, parent, friend, leader, hobbyist or simply becoming a better version of ourselves. There will always be another goal ahead of us, as there always should be. We should keep pushing ourselves to grow each and everyday. I always challenge people to continue to be a sponge day in and day out trying to soak up as much information and knowledge as possible. Sometimes it is good to stop, look back, and appreciate how far you have already come.

Then get back to work.