Take Little Steps to Leap Forward

Overwhelmed? Achieve a simple goal to build your momentum for success

The broadcaster’s comment is stuck in me, and I hope it’s stuck in me forever:

“What he needs to do now is throw a short pass. Just make a simple completion and get something going.”

Pittsburgh was emerging as the leader in the ACC championship game versus Wake Forest and the Pitt defense was getting in the Wake Forest quarterback’s way. Big plays weren’t happening and the more Wake Forest tried to make the big throw, the more the team dug into a hole.

The announcers recognized the dilemma and the need for Wake Forest to connect on simple, short passes.

Wake Forest ended up losing 45–21 but the principle remains true and wise to apply in areas of our lives when we get stuck:

Achieve something small to get back on track.

I was floundering in my career, and couldn’t even identify what my career was, during a time of family upheaval in the early 2000s. The nonprofit where I worked as a program director let me go, the tiny marketing firm I helped launch wasn’t working out, and the sales job I took went south due to industry shifts.

Nothing was working out, and home life was chaos. I had spent the first part of my career writing and voicing a creative radio spot series on cultures around the world when I moved into a management position at another nonprofit that assisted my wife and me in becoming both foster and adoptive parents.

The landscape had shifted, though. My ideas clashed with the board of directors and after several productive years I was on my way out.

Who was I and what did I do?

Basic questions were unanswered, and I was overwhelmed by circumstances.

I needed a simple completion that I could use as a small victory. Writing was a foundation for my work from radio through nonprofit leadership since I rewrote our brochure. My background was in journalism and short story writing.

How could I put it to use?

At that time, online writing was still new, and I found opportunities to write on both Hubpages, Associated Content and Helium, which was the first to go. I remember struggling with figuring out the online style and was worrying about money when I decided I’d simply write a few articles for Associated Content.

Nothing big. Nothing fancy. Just a few little articles and I got a sense of rhythm. A connection happened. I was beginning to write and wound up with a position at a boutique marketing agency programming websites. I took it and wrote an article on Hubpages about top tier gasoline in 2009.

I learned a lot about SEO and visibility and that led to writing for a company managing apartment buildings.

Writing a few simple articles led to better opportunities.

If you’re stuck, can you identify one simple “short pass” to connect so you move forward?

Family chaos continued and while life has improved in different ways, it’ll never be smooth sailing. However, I’m planning on 2022 being my best year in freelance writing and self-employment that I’ve ever had.

That key principle remains the same and needs applying over and over again. When life gets overwhelming and the way gets murky then just make something small happen.

Little successes lead to greater accomplishments.

Also read this companion piece:

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