The little things are the foundation that make a big impact. They are indicators to what lie ahead and determine the outcome. How you do the little things is how you will do everything. Whether it’s picking up after yourself or admitting when you are wrong. These things show a level of discipline and accountability that are foundational to making significant things happen in your life.
The little things make all the difference whether it is how you treat others, how you prepare, how you respond that will make things go from poor to average to good to great. Getting the details right brings a high level of accuracy that elevates how well things go. What might seem irrelevant in the moment can pay big dividends later on because big moments are made possible by all the cumulative small ones. Here are more reasons why the little things matter.
Increases productivity
The small action you take on a consistent daily basis compound to add up to massive results overtime. That steady and boring stream of work is building momentum of effort. The great thing about consistent effort is gradual improvement that will eventually produce results. Anything big can be broken down into smaller pieces that involves so many little things that needed to get done.
Think of the work you do as a Lego set, where there are lots of little pieces that take time to connect to make something big. When the little things get done it gives us a sense of accomplishment that we continue to pursue until it builds. Great things are done in a series of small things brought together. And when you get discouraged, remember slow growth is better than sitting around.
Working harder and longer might not add up to significant more results but modifying the little things can make things more efficient. Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company reduced the work week from six-days, 48-hours per week to five-days, 40-hours per week, and increased wages from $2.34 to $5 per day. This resulted in nearly doubling profits within the next two years when changes were implemented. Step back and evaluate what changes you can make in your life that will recharge you to be more efficient.
Improves your relationships
The little things are what we do and if we enjoy them. Your daily actions will determine how well you live. Do you take the time throughout your day to reminisce who makes you smile, who leaves you in awe or the people you connect with the most? When you can take the time to do so, abundance is clearer. Treat the people around you well by taking care of the little things that strengthen relationships.
It could be asking your loved ones how they are doing, remaining clam when things go bad or greeting people you pass by. How you respond affects others wanting to be around you and can leave a lasting impression. If you respond in a calm manner when things are bad that can rub off on others providing a stable and comforting feeling. These interactions we have affect how we view the quality of our lives. The higher quality our interactions are, the better mood we are in and the more we enjoy the relationships we have.
Jessie Bates, an NFL player who gives back to the community by hosting a single mothers initiative invited a single mother and her 3 kids to one of his games. The mother and kids got to enjoy the game from one of the suites. The kids were so excited by the whole atmosphere that they barely paid attention to the outcome of the game. Jessie Bates team lost a heart breaker in overtime that day and Jessie was so frustrated as he went to greet the kids and their mother in the suite. The kids ran to Jessie so excited and thankful for the experience that it immediately changed his outlook. He went from being frustrated to joyful simply because the perspective of the kids he impacted.
Helps to enjoy yourself more
Look to the little things that you do daily and ask yourself if you enjoy it. Can you think of your favorite daily smell, taste, or sound? Much of our joy comes from the small things we do daily because they are more abundant than the bigger moments. Do you enjoy things throughout your day like, what you do, who you are around, what you see and experience.
We all have a few big moments in our lives and if we derive our joy only from them then we will go through long periods of feeling down. Does your happiness only come from reaching that big milestone or how you choose to spend your time daily? What is great about enjoying the daily things is that it is tied to the process and not the result. So no matter what the result is, you enjoy it. If the results determine if you're enjoying it, then you will constantly be thinking in terms of win or lose, and your self-worth might become attached to that. Aim to do things that align with your values and the little things will be more enjoyable.
Warning of potential problems
The little things serve as warning signals of what could become a problem. When taken care of quickly, it can save time and headache from having to deal with it. Just like when the check engine light comes on the car, finding out what the issue is and have it repaired is a wise move. Some of the little things to correct is less communication in relationships that could signal something is wrong. Taking care and the time to communicate within a relationship can strengthen the bond that closes the gap that might have been widening.
Maybe it’s feeling tired often that could be a health-related or lifestyle issue. Evaluate what you can do such as getting more quality sleep, cutting out distractions to focus on what needs to get done or have a more fit lifestyle. These little things can go unnoticed at times and if left ignored can cause problems in the long-term. Ensure you pay attention and taking care of the little things will go a long way to prevent things from deteriorating.
Target is a great example of seeing warning signs within their business as sales started to decline at one point. Instead of waiting to see how things played out, they took action quickly by investing in the stores focusing on their digital footprint and increasing wages to attract great talent. This has paid off in a big way as the company is performing well. The cost of investing was sooner than they expected but waiting any longer could have made it more difficult to compete.
It all adds up
Overtime, what we do adds up that makes up our lives. We tend to not pay much attention to what we do daily because it might seem insignificant as the results are not seen. Just like a double balance beam scale, adding very small amounts of weight to one side consistently might not tip the scale immediately, but it will over the long run. We should see our daily work as the same concept and tip the scale to the side we want.
Many of us have heard what comes fast can go just as fast, so do great things in your life to build something steady and reliable to ensure it lasts a lifetime so you can enjoy all the little things it involves. The collection of all the little things is what make the big things possible. Each of our lives is a collective group of moments and people that make up our experiences and memory which is why the little things are the most significant to us. Without, we lose out what is most important.
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