#367 Eating a bag of chips

Ever caught yourself mindlessly finishing an entire bag of chips when you planned to eat just one? That's the hidden power of micro actions—small behaviors that compound quickly, shaping our lives in profound ways.

Small, consistent actions shape your future more profoundly than occasional moments of inspiration or motivation. While our culture celebrates the big breakthrough, the viral moment, and the overnight success, true excellence emerges from the quiet, consistent decisions we make daily. These micro choices—often invisible to others—gradually construct our habits, skills, and ultimately, our identities.

Think of it like a dripping faucet. One drop seems insignificant, but over time, those drops fill glasses, sinks, and bathtubs. The same principle applies to both growth and decline in our lives. As James Clear wisely notes, "You get what you repeat." Are you repeating focus or distraction? Gratitude or complaint? Growth or stagnation? The compounding effect works in all directions.

The good news? You can harness this power starting today. Don't wait for perfect circumstances or motivation to strike. Begin with the next small action that aligns with who you want to become: write one sentence, drink one glass of water, take one deep breath before responding. Your legacy isn't built in dramatic leaps—it's constructed through countless small steps taken consistently over time. What micro action will you commit to repeating this week? Text me to discuss how we can work together to instigate meaningful growth in your life or organization.

Chapters

• 0:00 The One Chip Phenomenon

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Oh my gosh, have you ever eaten just one chip and then you look down to find the bag is mysteriously empty? Yeah, small actions compound fast whether they help you or hurt you. Welcome to message 367 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. This message especially goes out to Jonathan from Florida. Happy 50th birthday, brother. This is Top Performance Tuesday.

Speaker 1: 0:35

The hidden power of micro actions. Here's the one big idea I want to land today. Small, consistent actions shape your future more than rare moments of inspiration. That's right, small, consistent actions shape your future more than rare moments of inspiration. We live in a culture addicted to the big breakthrough, the huge win, the viral moment, the unicorn, yeah. But real growth, real excellence, it's hidden in the micro decisions you make every single day, often when no one is watching, and that's what Jonathan from Florida is so good at. I've witnessed it day in and day out for nearly 50 years. Let me give you a picture. Imagine a dripping faucet. One drop at a time doesn't look like much, but over time that drip fills a glass, then a sink and then an entire tub. Now imagine that same drip is under your sink and left unnoticed. Tiny consistent output or tiny consistent damage. Huh, james Clear says it best in Atomic Habits, you get what you repeat.

Speaker 1: 1:48

That's right. That line has been echoing in my mind lately. Do I repeat focus or distraction, gratitude or grumbling, stretch or stagnation? But because what you repeat becomes what you reap, it can harness it and we can harness it for good. So today, take this seriously. Want to become someone different. Don't wait for the perfect day. Start with the next small action that aligns with who you want to become. Write one sentence. Drink one glass of water. Pause for one deep breath before reacting, start typing and see what happens. One keystroke becomes a word, becomes a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, a book, a collection that changes the world. Your legacy isn't built in a single leap. It's built in the steps you want to take on. To repeat, thank you for calling Goat Instigators Hotline. If you think I can help you or your team, shoot me a text and let's chat about how I can help. After the beep, what's one micro action you're ready to repeat this week to create long-term growth? Keep instigating growth in all you do.