When there are a million steps, start with the ones that matter most.
Today’s thought:
The thing you’re not doing might be the exact thing you should start doing—just not alone, and not all at once.
There’s a project.
It’s big.
It’s complicated.
It’s probably important.
And right now, it’s sitting there—on your whiteboard, in your Google Drive, or floating somewhere in your head, nebulous and heavy. You’re not stuck because you’re lazy. You’re stuck because it’s overwhelming. The road ahead is foggy with too many steps, too many options, too many tabs open.
This isn’t about beating procrastination.
It’s about reclaiming clarity and momentum.
Let’s reframe the challenge—not as a fight against avoidance, but as an invitation to get strategic.
Instead of “doing everything,” focus on doing the right next thing—and doing it with others.
1. Start with the high-leverage step
Ask yourself this:
“If I could only do one thing today that would meaningfully move this forward, what would it be?”
Don’t try to climb the whole staircase.
Find the keystone action—the one that makes everything else easier or irrelevant.
Not all steps are equal. Some give you clarity. Others unlock resources. One might simply help you feel capable again. That one step might be a decision. A sketch. A conversation. A plan written out in a shared doc.
Start there.
And then tomorrow? Do the next most useful thing.
This isn’t about urgency. It’s about impact.
2. Productivity is amplified by people
There’s a myth of the solo genius, hammering out a master plan in isolation.
But in the real world? Big goals become real through collaboration.
Who are the people in your life that bring clarity, momentum, skill, or insight? They might be:
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A teammate who simplifies complexity
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A friend who sees things you overlook
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A mentor who gives you perspective
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A student or colleague who asks the right question
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A co-writer who helps you finish the sentence
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A co-producer who sparks the energy to keep going
You don’t have to carry every piece of the puzzle. You just need to know where to plug in and who else is holding pieces.
Collaboration isn’t just helpful—it’s a time-saving, motivation-fueling, excellence-raising superpower.
And if you’re not already collaborating, ask yourself:
“What’s the worst that can happen if I invite someone in?”
Even just a brainstorm, a 20-minute call, or a shared Trello board can unlock a week’s worth of forward motion.
3. Measure progress by outcomes, not effort
A to-do list with 97 items? Not progress.
Crossing off the 3 most strategic tasks that lead to a breakthrough? That’s gold.
You’re not trying to finish everything—you’re trying to build momentum.
Here’s how you know you're on track:
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Did today’s action bring me closer to completion, clarity, or support?
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Did I eliminate a roadblock?
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Did I co-create something instead of going it alone?
The feeling of accomplishment comes not from being busy—but from recognizing that what you did mattered.
4. Reclaim your sense of scale
Large projects often seem unfinishable. But remember:
You’re building something worth building.
And that kind of work is meant to take time.
So instead of asking, “How do I get this all done?”
Ask, “How do I move the needle today, with the help of others, in a way that keeps the whole thing alive?”
Great projects don’t come from urgency.
They come from sustained, strategic motion—built over time with the right people.
5. You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to start.
You might not have the full picture yet.
But clarity is something that comes from action, not before it.
You’ll rarely feel ready to tackle something that matters.
But by choosing one meaningful action, asking for help where needed, and collaborating intentionally, you build something better than readiness—you build momentum.
Final Thought: The Real Win
The win isn’t just that you get it done.
The win is that you grew while doing it.
You collaborated.
You discovered what you’re capable of with others.
You made something real out of a messy idea.
That’s not just productivity.
That’s fulfillment.
That’s leadership.
That’s impact.
And that’s how to do one thing better.