Closing the Smallest Gap: A Simple Approach to Achieving Big Goals
"Fret not where the road will take you. Instead, concentrate on the first step. That is the hardest part and that is what you are responsible for. Once you take that step, let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Don't go with the flow. Be the flow."
– Rule 19, Forty Rules of Love of Shams of Tabriz (1185-1248)
So many of us get easily derailed in the face of too much to do. The barrage of emails and urgent tasks piling up can make it feel nearly impossible to even think about the bigger picture. On top of that, the pressure to make sound decisions in high-stress moments or to support those around us can drain our energy and focus.
When we're buried under all there is to do, it becomes difficult to think creatively about the future. Innovation and vision require mental space, but it’s hard to find that space when we're overwhelmed. And yet, it’s precisely this type of big-picture thinking that often brings us the greatest fulfillment and feeds our spirits.
Three years ago, I made a commitment to reclaim daydreaming time. This intentional practice allowed me to develop the Survival Pattern Framework—something that Groundwork Alumni like you have found incredibly meaningful. Imagining and iterating on new ideas and frameworks brings me deep joy, and it’s a part of my work that I would miss dearly without time to innovate.
When we skip over envisioning and creative thinking, we lose a crucial piece of our journey: the meaning we gain along the way. But thinking alone isn’t enough—taking action is often the next essential step.
Whenever I’m at the beginning of a new project, and I feel overwhelmed by all there is to do or uncertain about the best path forward, I remind myself to do something simple: close the smallest gap.
All I need to do is take one step and “let everything do what it naturally does.”
Here’s how to close that first small gap:
- Release resistance to the outcome of your goal. Drop in and ground yourself if deeper fears come up, like fear of failure or fear of missing out.
- Identify the simplest, smallest step you can take.
- Capture it and plan for it in your system. Having it recorded makes it real and manageable.
- Allow the next step to reveal itself naturally. Decide whether to ponder it spontaneously or to set aside dedicated time for creative thinking if your schedule is packed.
- Release attachment to the outcome of that first step. Shift your focus back to the process rather than the result.
While concentrating on that first step can feel like the hardest part, it’s also the one thing we can truly control. Sometimes, taking that first step is the only point of power we have.
The next time you’re feeling stuck or unsure how to move forward—whether it's for a personal project, a work goal, or even planning a fun weekend—try following these five simple steps. Close the first small gap, and let the rest naturally flow.
Test this approach in your life. For your next big project, take the smallest, simplest step, and watch as the journey begins to unfold.
The Groundwork System is a simple way to manage your inbox, to-do list, and calendar, and a simple way to understand and manage the triggers and pain that keep you in survival mode.
