I’m no stranger to big ideas and big visions. Sometimes that’s a great thing: to be able to see all the possibilities of an idea, all the facets of its potential and what it can become.
The world needs visionaries to paint the picture of a future that others can’t see.
The world also needs people to implement the vision. And implementation rarely happens in one magic swoosh of the wand.
So the world also needs people who can break down the vision into actionable items, people who can project plan and pace the process.
If you’re an entrepreneur, especially when starting out, you need to play all three roles. And this can cause some head spin.
Give me anyone else’s small idea any day and I can paint the vision of it, break it down, and set the course of actions.
With my own, it’s like constant road block. I can easily get caught up in the swirl of overwhelm, ping-ponging back and forth in debates with myself about what action is the best one to take.
My training as a lawyer gave me the skill for contingency planning. But too much contingency planning can lead to paralysis.
So I’ve learned that when I fall into this place I need to dial it back:
Make the vision smaller.
Yes, I said it. Your problem might be that your vision is too big for where you are.
A five year horizon is too long. Even a 1-year horizon can be a long time.
The truth is you can’t predict the future. Taking the next small step may open options you didn’t even know were on the radar.
When things feel too big, break it down. What’s the next minimum viable step you can take?
when it feels too big
you’re swirling in overwhelm
take the next small step
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