Thank you. I’ve spent the last 11 months beating myself up for choices I made in 2022-23, choices that I’ve believed had a huge impact on what I can do now. I can see, on some level, what caused me to eschew a few opportunities that could’ve made my today easier, but there’s no way of knowing how that would’ve changed the choices that came later. Really, all I can do is make a new choice. And, that choice involves being kinder to myself. (That was my resolution for 2024, by the way, while my … theme, I’d guess you’d call it, was silence. Both have been more challenging than I expected.) I had a couple goals for 2024, both involving small steps. B/c I’ve been on this path, before, I could see that. But I lacked confidence and motivation to carry them out because I felt that I’d failed. What was the point, pessimism complained, if I couldn’t carry through on the simplest tasks, even those that seemed to be the clearest way forward?
It didn’t help that I was grieving the deaths of friends and a step-parent (and subsequent loss of family and community) that weren’t the source of support they’d once been.
At least, all that is what I told myself. In the past 24 hours, however, I’ve reminded myself of all I learned, this year. I still hope to publish my book and release the music, but I’m not sure how I’ll pay for all the legal and logistical steps on the way. I need a way to pay for it all, and I’ve felt stuck on that aspect.
Perhaps, my small step involves letting go of the judgment and embracing whatever Life or God has in store for me. A part of me wants to just chuck it all and start fresh. Another truly wants to see this through. I don’t want to miss out on what’s on the other side of the bend because I was too busy looking at last year’s map to look up and see the detour.
Heck, maybe THIS is the detour.
Either way, I keep praying and opening myself to the next big step. And that involves sending this comment so I can go do my yoga. Doing all I can to make it in time to a burning bowl ceremony (for releasing what no longer serves). Wrapping up my exit from an online platform where I’ve composed and sold my music so I can have more control over how I create and sell what I create.
My apologies for my rambling reply. I haven’t meditated yet. Thanks again for posting! S
I agree sometimes we zoom out too much that we overlook the action steps. When everyone else is talking about setting big goals for 2025, your article is a fresh take, and very inspring!
Well said, we all seem to forget that even the biggest most ambitious goals are formed by humble tiny steps. Does aren't as glamourous and exciting to take, but they make all the difference.
Hi, this was really encouraging. I never have thought about it that way, I always feel like I need to "thing bigger" constantly. This helped me get unstuck in several ways mentally.
Serendipity - I was watching a YT video last evening about Moto Pizza, and how they have a 4 month wait. In the interview, the owner of the Pizza joint came across as a very well natured gent, truly exhibiting positivity and nice-ness. When asked tips to give new businesses, his first was to "Put one foot, and then the next". If you can't Fly, Run. If you can't Run, Walk. If you can't Walk, Crawl.
This email I'm reading the day after reminded me of that.
Hey! After reviewing my comment and seeing your cartoon again, I recognize that taking the small steps led to the projects (current and future) that I want to realize, this year! I met with a business coach (friend of mine) and contacted an entertainment lawyer about my next steps. I’ve mastered 25 original songs for an album. And, I’m learning about new music composition software (exciting because of all the features). And, little by little, I’m releasing my tenacious hold on the narrative of what might have been, if ____. So, progress! Hope you’re all doing well!
This is amazing to read. I'm so happy for you. This is precisely what I do all this for, to hear stories like yours. From real talented hard hard-working people making progress against all odds. Well done. You're an inspiration to many.
Oh, my gosh! Thank you! I still focus on the opportunities lost and projects unfinished, and seeing this pop up was just what I needed, today! 7 months later (!!), I’ve released a collection of music albums - some based on those 25 duets, some not - and started my Substack newsletter (The Lily Pond). This week, I’ve worked on another collection of remixes (based on the original duets) and Recorded the spoken word versions of the poems I wrote to go with the songs.
This summer, I participated in an 8-week entrepreneurship program and Artist Inc.! It’s been challenging to keep up with the new opportunities, and I admit to dropping a few.
I share this update because I want to be transparent and celebrate the wins. Also, I want to emphasize that goals themselves may change without compromising the overall vision. and even the roads not taken and sometimes loop around and present themselves as a second chance or opportunity.
Very inspiring Ash! Very different take. Love your newsletters, Keep them going!
I'm in a place right now that I need to visualize a bigger picture and then start taking small steps to reach there. Else, I kind of get lost as I tend to set my foot in multiple things and don't move reasonably forward in anything.
Hence this time I publicly put my goals for 2025 in X and that gave me a sense of direction and relief.
It's different for each person I guess, it all depends on which phase of life we are in.
Glad you took that small step. Getting ourselves in a funk is sometimes what gives us the clarity we need to break out of it, like you've got to bottom out before you can rise back up.
Sorry to hear you've not been doing well. Glad to hear you're picking yourself up. I've been doing the same the last months. Your advice is sound. It's not always about the big epic goal. There's wisdom and joy to be found in small steps that lead forward.
No need to feel sorry at all, no big deal. Appreciate that. Glad you're applying this approach too, all epic goals are achieved through tiny steps in the dark. Let's do this Jeff :)
Je crois que le malheur prends de la place à mesure que l’on se concentre sur le résultat plutôt que le processus.
Sur la destination, plutôt que sur le voyage.
Le meilleure exemple pour imagée cette idée, selon moi, sont les enfants. Les enfants joue à être Spiderman ou Cendrillon car c’est amusant en soi, et non pas car ils doivent travailler dure pour sauver le monde ou trouver un amoureux.
Great insights. I have been noodling this concept around for a while now but hadn't articulated it before. I find procrastination is usually because I'm embarking on a complex project or process that I'm unfamiliar with. I don't start because I want to visualize the entire process and don't want to make any mistakes.
Been there before, there are blank spaces in the road ahead it's easy to get paralyzed, still struggle with this. I guess the solution is to let go and accept that we'll never be able to fully visualize every part, we just have to take a plunge. Happy new year Chris!
Great insights! Have been noodling this concept around for a while now but hadn't articulated it before. I find procrastination is usually because I can't see my way to the end of a complex project or process... Especially if I am unfamiliar with the process and don't want to make mistakes.
The brain hates blank spaces, I struggle with tat all the time. Sometimes I brianstorm the process on a big piece of paper so I can see it all in one view. That way, my brain calms down, but in the end, taking a small step is the only way forward. Cheers Chris, w'eve ogt this!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." — Lao Tzu
Your post and quote above encourage us to embrace the present, take small steps, and trust that clarity and momentum will follow. Most of the time, we do not need to have everything figured out—what matters is taking the next step.
Thank you. I’ve spent the last 11 months beating myself up for choices I made in 2022-23, choices that I’ve believed had a huge impact on what I can do now. I can see, on some level, what caused me to eschew a few opportunities that could’ve made my today easier, but there’s no way of knowing how that would’ve changed the choices that came later. Really, all I can do is make a new choice. And, that choice involves being kinder to myself. (That was my resolution for 2024, by the way, while my … theme, I’d guess you’d call it, was silence. Both have been more challenging than I expected.) I had a couple goals for 2024, both involving small steps. B/c I’ve been on this path, before, I could see that. But I lacked confidence and motivation to carry them out because I felt that I’d failed. What was the point, pessimism complained, if I couldn’t carry through on the simplest tasks, even those that seemed to be the clearest way forward?
It didn’t help that I was grieving the deaths of friends and a step-parent (and subsequent loss of family and community) that weren’t the source of support they’d once been.
At least, all that is what I told myself. In the past 24 hours, however, I’ve reminded myself of all I learned, this year. I still hope to publish my book and release the music, but I’m not sure how I’ll pay for all the legal and logistical steps on the way. I need a way to pay for it all, and I’ve felt stuck on that aspect.
Perhaps, my small step involves letting go of the judgment and embracing whatever Life or God has in store for me. A part of me wants to just chuck it all and start fresh. Another truly wants to see this through. I don’t want to miss out on what’s on the other side of the bend because I was too busy looking at last year’s map to look up and see the detour.
Heck, maybe THIS is the detour.
Either way, I keep praying and opening myself to the next big step. And that involves sending this comment so I can go do my yoga. Doing all I can to make it in time to a burning bowl ceremony (for releasing what no longer serves). Wrapping up my exit from an online platform where I’ve composed and sold my music so I can have more control over how I create and sell what I create.
My apologies for my rambling reply. I haven’t meditated yet. Thanks again for posting! S
I feel you. You've got this Steph. I believe in you.
Sometimes you gotta ramble a bit 🫶
I agree sometimes we zoom out too much that we overlook the action steps. When everyone else is talking about setting big goals for 2025, your article is a fresh take, and very inspring!
Well said, we all seem to forget that even the biggest most ambitious goals are formed by humble tiny steps. Does aren't as glamourous and exciting to take, but they make all the difference.
So if we can continue to push on despite them being boring (no flash and no excitement in the daily grind), progress is made.
Hi, this was really encouraging. I never have thought about it that way, I always feel like I need to "thing bigger" constantly. This helped me get unstuck in several ways mentally.
I'm so, so glad this was helpful to you in some way, Elisa. Keep going, one step at a time, you've got this. Enjoy the journey. Go small or go home!
Serendipity - I was watching a YT video last evening about Moto Pizza, and how they have a 4 month wait. In the interview, the owner of the Pizza joint came across as a very well natured gent, truly exhibiting positivity and nice-ness. When asked tips to give new businesses, his first was to "Put one foot, and then the next". If you can't Fly, Run. If you can't Run, Walk. If you can't Walk, Crawl.
This email I'm reading the day after reminded me of that.
Best of luck for an amazing 2025!
Beautiful story, thank you so much for sharing. Glad this resonated with you. Let's keep making tiny steps. Go small or go home!
Hey! After reviewing my comment and seeing your cartoon again, I recognize that taking the small steps led to the projects (current and future) that I want to realize, this year! I met with a business coach (friend of mine) and contacted an entertainment lawyer about my next steps. I’ve mastered 25 original songs for an album. And, I’m learning about new music composition software (exciting because of all the features). And, little by little, I’m releasing my tenacious hold on the narrative of what might have been, if ____. So, progress! Hope you’re all doing well!
This is amazing to read. I'm so happy for you. This is precisely what I do all this for, to hear stories like yours. From real talented hard hard-working people making progress against all odds. Well done. You're an inspiration to many.
Oh, my gosh! Thank you! I still focus on the opportunities lost and projects unfinished, and seeing this pop up was just what I needed, today! 7 months later (!!), I’ve released a collection of music albums - some based on those 25 duets, some not - and started my Substack newsletter (The Lily Pond). This week, I’ve worked on another collection of remixes (based on the original duets) and Recorded the spoken word versions of the poems I wrote to go with the songs.
This summer, I participated in an 8-week entrepreneurship program and Artist Inc.! It’s been challenging to keep up with the new opportunities, and I admit to dropping a few.
I share this update because I want to be transparent and celebrate the wins. Also, I want to emphasize that goals themselves may change without compromising the overall vision. and even the roads not taken and sometimes loop around and present themselves as a second chance or opportunity.
Very inspiring Ash! Very different take. Love your newsletters, Keep them going!
I'm in a place right now that I need to visualize a bigger picture and then start taking small steps to reach there. Else, I kind of get lost as I tend to set my foot in multiple things and don't move reasonably forward in anything.
Hence this time I publicly put my goals for 2025 in X and that gave me a sense of direction and relief.
It's different for each person I guess, it all depends on which phase of life we are in.
I'm happy to hear my emails speak to you. You make all the difference.
That's such a good idea, publicly announcing goals to keep yourself accountable.
Noted!
Glad you took that small step. Getting ourselves in a funk is sometimes what gives us the clarity we need to break out of it, like you've got to bottom out before you can rise back up.
Spot on Mark. Spot on. Let's get after it sir.
Sorry to hear you've not been doing well. Glad to hear you're picking yourself up. I've been doing the same the last months. Your advice is sound. It's not always about the big epic goal. There's wisdom and joy to be found in small steps that lead forward.
No need to feel sorry at all, no big deal. Appreciate that. Glad you're applying this approach too, all epic goals are achieved through tiny steps in the dark. Let's do this Jeff :)
Je crois que le malheur prends de la place à mesure que l’on se concentre sur le résultat plutôt que le processus.
Sur la destination, plutôt que sur le voyage.
Le meilleure exemple pour imagée cette idée, selon moi, sont les enfants. Les enfants joue à être Spiderman ou Cendrillon car c’est amusant en soi, et non pas car ils doivent travailler dure pour sauver le monde ou trouver un amoureux.
Merci pour vos messages et illustrations :)
Love the message, such a good way to put it, isn't it ironic that in the end, we learn the most from kids and not adults?
Oui je suis d’accord, c’est absolument ironique !
Je crois que c’est l’un des principaux enjeux de notre époque : Vaincre nos distraction.
Great insights. I have been noodling this concept around for a while now but hadn't articulated it before. I find procrastination is usually because I'm embarking on a complex project or process that I'm unfamiliar with. I don't start because I want to visualize the entire process and don't want to make any mistakes.
Been there before, there are blank spaces in the road ahead it's easy to get paralyzed, still struggle with this. I guess the solution is to let go and accept that we'll never be able to fully visualize every part, we just have to take a plunge. Happy new year Chris!
Great insights! Have been noodling this concept around for a while now but hadn't articulated it before. I find procrastination is usually because I can't see my way to the end of a complex project or process... Especially if I am unfamiliar with the process and don't want to make mistakes.
The brain hates blank spaces, I struggle with tat all the time. Sometimes I brianstorm the process on a big piece of paper so I can see it all in one view. That way, my brain calms down, but in the end, taking a small step is the only way forward. Cheers Chris, w'eve ogt this!
Thank you, Ash. I'm frequently in a funk about a project that I can't seem to realize..
because I'm overwhelmed by the scope.
It IS the best approach you write about: first one step.. then the next. Just begin.
You've got this Sea, I believe in you. One damn step at a time.
https://letter.visualgrowth.com/p/step/comment/83527807
Thanks for sharing, Ash. Great reminder for taking the immediate next steps.
Hope you're well Amit! Let's take many small steps this coming year.
Thanks a lot for sharing Ash, everyone knows the struggle and action, even the smallest one is often the best step to take.
Hidde! Appreciate you. Glad this spoke to you. Let's smash this coming year ok?
Definitely! 👊🏻
You're killing, mate! I sense some candle vibe here... it's gooood.
Well, you're spot on! I actually wrote this the day I decided to use the candle during midnight. Appreciate you man.
Your post reminded me of the following quote:
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." — Lao Tzu
Your post and quote above encourage us to embrace the present, take small steps, and trust that clarity and momentum will follow. Most of the time, we do not need to have everything figured out—what matters is taking the next step.
That's such a beautiful quote. Thank you for sharing it with me, just wrote it down in my journal.