Making Big Impact

by Russell Tibbits

Two weeks ago, a close friend moved to Austin to enjoy the sunny weather, the exciting nightlife and to start the next phase of her life. While she recently finished her Master’s degree and said goodbye to many friends and family members, she moved here without a job and knowing only a few people. For some people, this might sound exhilarating; for her the idea was terrifying. On top of this, portions of her new home needed immediate repair, making her feeling even less at ease. Over the course of the last two weeks there have been tears and many moments of frustration.

When I moved to Austin three years ago, I learned through a tool taught by The Effective Edge to look back at the end of each week and celebrate all of my accomplishments. I still do this weekly and in fact now use this to track progress for my larger goals, like attending Toastmasters in 2009 or completing triathlons. This tool keeps me positive and focuses my thoughts on the long-term effects of small, bite-sized progress. What may seem like little or no progress each week can add up to large changes when looked at over months or quarters.

I shared this new tool with my friend. We created a list of her accomplishments to celebrate the progress she has made. In the two weeks since she moved, she has walked and run Town Lake at least 5 times, practiced yoga, connected with sorority sisters in Austin, interviewed for two different positions and accepted a job offer. This is quite a long list for someone new to a city and unfamiliar with her surroundings. I encourage everyone to use this tool, not just for work accomplishments, but personal achievements as well. I think you’ll quickly see how small steps done consistently make big impact.