If everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, why do some people seem to get so much more done than others?
How is it that some people do more, achieve more, and earn more while others struggle to keep up with their endless to-do lists? The answer lies in a powerful but simple concept: going small.
Success doesn’t come from spreading yourself thin and trying to tackle everything at once. It comes from focusing on the few things that truly matter and mastering them. Today, I want to help you understand how going small can dramatically improve your productivity and bring you closer to your dreams.
Table of Contents
The Myth of Multitasking
Let me start with a story to illustrate this idea. A few years ago, I had a client named Ravi, a senior manager at a tech firm. Ravi was talented and driven, but he was constantly overwhelmed. His day was packed with meetings, emails, and a never-ending list of tasks. No matter how hard he worked, he always felt like he was barely keeping his head above water.
One day, during a coaching session, I asked him a simple question: “What’s the one thing, if done well, that would make everything else easier or unnecessary?” Ravi paused. It was the first time he had ever thought about narrowing his focus. He had always believed that success was about doing more. The more hours you put in, the more tasks you complete, the better off you are, right?
But when we started exploring the idea of going small—of focusing only on the most important thing—Ravi’s perspective shifted. Instead of trying to juggle 20 things at once, he began identifying the key tasks that would have the greatest impact. It wasn’t easy, and it required saying “no” to a lot of distractions. But after a few months, Ravi found himself achieving more with less stress. His productivity soared, and he finally felt in control of his time.
This story isn’t unique to Ravi. The myth of multitasking and doing more has fooled many of us. But the truth is that extraordinary results come not from doing more but from doing less—better.
Why Going Small Works
So, why does going small work? The principle is grounded in the understanding that not all tasks are created equal. In his book The One Thing, Gary Keller explains that success is not about doing everything, but about focusing on the few things that truly matter. The narrower your focus, the greater your results.
1. The 80/20 Rule
One of the most important lessons about going small comes from the 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. It states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. In other words, a small portion of your actions leads to the majority of your outcomes. By identifying that 20%, you can leverage your time and energy for maximum impact.
2. Focus vs. Distraction
When you try to do too many things at once, you dilute your focus. Research shows that multitasking reduces productivity by as much as 40%. On the other hand, focusing on one thing at a time increases efficiency and deepens your engagement. This is why going small works—it channels your attention and resources into the areas that will deliver the highest return.
3. The Power of Simplicity
Simplicity breeds success. Think about the most successful people you know. They are often not the ones who are the busiest, but the ones who are most focused. By stripping away the non-essential, they create space to excel in the areas that truly matter. Going small helps you simplify your life and career, enabling you to work smarter, not harder.
How to Go Small and Maximize Your Success
Now that we’ve established the importance of going small, let’s get practical. How can you apply this in your own life? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
1. Identify Your One Thing
The first step to going small is to identify your “one thing.” This is the most important task, project, or goal that will have the greatest impact on your life or work. Ask yourself:
- What’s the one thing that, if done well, will make everything else easier or unnecessary?
- What’s the one goal that will move the needle in my career, relationships, or personal growth?
Take some time to reflect on your priorities. Your one thing will vary depending on the context of your life, but the key is to narrow your focus to what matters most.
2. Time Block Your Focus
Once you’ve identified your one thing, it’s time to protect it. The best way to do this is by time blocking. Set aside dedicated time in your day or week to work on your one thing. During this time, eliminate distractions—turn off your phone, close your email, and focus solely on the task at hand.
Research from Dr. Gloria Mark at the University of California shows that it takes an average of 23 minutes to regain focus after being interrupted. That’s why time blocking is so important—it creates uninterrupted space for deep work.
3. Say No to Distractions
To go small, you must say no to distractions. This is easier said than done, especially in a world full of notifications, meetings, and competing demands. But remember, every “yes” to something unimportant is a “no” to something important.
Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time, attributes much of his success to his ability to say no. He once said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” You must get comfortable with turning down opportunities, tasks, or requests that don’t align with your one thing.
4. Break Down Big Goals into Smaller Steps
One of the reasons people feel overwhelmed is that they set big goals but don’t break them down into actionable steps. Going small means taking those large, overwhelming goals and chunking them into smaller, more manageable tasks.
For example, let’s say your goal is to write a book. Instead of focusing on the daunting task of writing 60,000 words, break it down into daily or weekly word count goals. By going small, you’ll make consistent progress and avoid burnout.
5. Track Your Progress
Finally, track your progress to ensure that you’re staying focused on your one thing. Use a journal, planner, or digital tool to record your wins and challenges. Celebrate the small victories along the way and adjust your approach if necessary.
The Impact of Going Small on Your Life
Now, let’s talk about you. How can going small impact your life? The truth is, most people are overwhelmed, stressed, and feel like they’re spinning their wheels. They’re doing too much and accomplishing too little. Going small is the antidote to this feeling of overwhelm.
When you go small:
- You regain control over your time.
- You achieve more with less effort.
- You experience greater satisfaction and fulfilment because you’re making progress on the things that matter most.
- You reduce stress and burnout because you’re not trying to do it all.
Going small doesn’t mean thinking small or dreaming small. It’s about focusing on what’s truly important so you can achieve big success. When you adopt this mindset, you’ll find that your productivity skyrockets, and your dreams become more attainable.
Steve Jobs and the Power of Focus
One of the best real-life examples of the power of going small comes from Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. When Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was struggling and unfocused. It had too many products and not enough direction. Jobs made a bold decision: he slashed Apple’s product line by 70%, focusing the company’s efforts on just four core products.
This decision was risky, but it paid off. By going small and focusing on a few key products, Apple was able to innovate and eventually become one of the most valuable companies in the world. Jobs’ ability to go small—focusing on fewer things but doing them better—transformed Apple’s future.
Go Small to Achieve Big
In a world that glorifies busyness and multitasking, going small might seem counterintuitive. But if you want to achieve extraordinary results, this is the mindset you need to adopt. By focusing on the vital few rather than the trivial many, you’ll get more done, experience less stress, and move closer to your biggest goals.
So, I’ll leave you with this question: What’s your one thing? What’s the one thing that, if done well, will make everything else easier or unnecessary? Identify it, focus on it, and watch how going small leads to big success.
References:
- Research on multitasking and productivity.
- Gloria Mark’s research on workplace interruptions.
- Steve Jobs’ focus at Apple.
