The Power of Tiny Wins: How Small Goals Changed Everything for Me

Let’s play a game:

Would you rather…

(a) Achieve a massive goal once a year, or

(b) Feel like a rockstar every single day with tiny wins that build momentum?

Trick question. You can have both. But only if you stop chasing the Big Win™ like it’s a lottery ticket and start stacking tiny wins like LEGOs of success.

I used to think real progress meant dramatic change, like writing a book in one weekend or magically becoming “a morning person” because I bought a new alarm clock. Spoiler: I’m still not a morning person. And the book I am still working on.

But once I embraced tiny wins? Game. Changed.

Today I’m going to show you how small wins build big momentum, how they rewired my brain, and how you can start racking them up like gold stars on a kindergarten chart, but for adults and with less glue.

Why Big Goals Backfire

Big goals are exciting. Until they’re overwhelming.

Ever write “launch my business” on your to-do list and then… immediately take a nap? Same.

Big goals are like trying to eat an entire pizza in one bite. You can’t. You need slices. And if the first slice is “make a logo” or “write a headline,” that’s a win. Tiny. But it counts.

What I learned the hard way is this: Big goals don’t get done in leaps. They get done in steps. Microscopic, “this feels silly” kind of steps. And the more often you win, even a little, the more likely you are to keep going.

My Personal Turning Point

A few years ago, I had a to-do list that looked like a cry for help. It said things like “launch full productivity course,” “write 10 blog posts,” and “figure out how to be less tired.”(No pressure.)

I made that list on Monday. By Thursday, I was eating gummy bears for dinner and binge-watching people who actually launch things.

So I tried something new. I made a list of only small wins.

• “Open my script document.”

• “Write for 15 minutes.”

• “Reply to one email I’ve been avoiding.”

• “Clean one corner of my desk.”

Every time I checked something off, even the dumb little things, I got a dopamine hit. And that little spark made me want to do one more thing. Then another.

I built a habit of feeling successful, not just chasing success. And that feeling? It’s addictive in the best way.

What Tiny Wins Actually Do

Let’s talk science for a second. When you accomplish something, even something small, your brain releases dopamine. That “heck yes, I did it” feeling. That’s chemistry, baby.

And that dopamine tells your brain:

• This matters.

• This feels good.

• Let’s do it again.

You start trusting yourself. And that self-trust is the real engine of productivity. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up and stacking wins, like you’re building a motivational Jenga tower.

What Counts as a Win?

Listen to me carefully: If it moved you forward even one inch, it counts.

Some examples from my actual life:

• Opened a blank doc? Win.

• Wrote a rough paragraph? Win.

• Hit publish even though I was scared? Major win.

• Ate a vegetable? We’re basically thriving.

And yes, some wins are private. Quiet. Unseen. Like showing up to do the work when no one’s watching. That’s the kind of win that builds resilience.

You don’t have to go viral. You just have to go forward.

The Snowball Strategy

Here’s how I use tiny wins on a daily basis now:

1. Start ridiculously small

“Clean my whole inbox” becomes “Reply to two emails.”“Film a video” becomes “Write one line of the script. ”Start so small it’s impossible to fail.

2. Track them

I use a “Did it” list, not just a “To-do” list. Every checkmark is proof. Progress over perfection.

3. Stack the win

One win makes you want the next. Like chips. But good for your brain.

Wins create momentum. Momentum creates consistency. Consistency? That’s where the magic happens.

The Real Lesson

At the end of the day, you don’t need to feel like a superhero to make progress.You just need to feel like someone who keeps showing up.

Because success isn’t about one big win. It’s about a thousand tiny ones. One draft. One choice. One day you didn’t quit.

So next time you’re feeling stuck, don’t ask: “What’s the biggest thing I can do? ”Ask:“What’s the smallest win I can get right now?”

Then do it.

And stack the next.

And watch your goals go from “someday” to “done.”