Ever feel like you’re not making progress towards your goals? Like the goal is so big, and your efforts so insignificant that you can’t possibly ever get there? Yeah, me too. Especially lately with my online venture. I’ve been plugging away, posting articles and uploading videos consistently, but sometimes it feels as if I’m just throwing content out into the void. As if my efforts are meaningless and I won’t ever achieve my goals.
But then something cool happened last week. Check this out.
A week ago I did a Google search for “karate blogs.” The first hit that came up was a snippet from a Feedspot article: “Top 20 Karate Blogs, Websites & Influencers in 2021.” And get this: I made the list! I’m number freaking SIX on a top 20 list!
This is so amazing and cool to me. How did I—a start-up blogger and YouTuber—get on a top 20 list??
Our Actions Sometimes Feel Insignificant
I haven’t been doing this for very long, and I was a complete beginner when I started this venture. When I came up with the idea barely a year-and-a-half ago, I had no idea how to build a website, how to set up a film studio, how to make videos, how to blog, or how to promote myself on social media. I had no clue, and I had to learn it all from scratch.
I had to push through so many moments of feeling like an idiot, feeling like a beginner, feeling like a failure. I experienced a lot of frustration and indecision over the past year or so, but I knew that creating content was what I wanted to do, so I pushed through and did the tough work.
Consistent Effort is Key
My blog and YouTube went live just over 6 months ago, and since then I have been posting content consistently: one blog article per week, and one YouTube video per week.
And that consistent effort has paid off. Those actions have added up. Google noticed me! Lol.
Making a top 20 list is a fairly significant milestone. That’s not to say that my position as #6 on this list is fixed; I could certainly move down the list, or be bumped off entirely. But at this moment in time, I’m on a list; this is proof that my efforts are getting results.
(And of course I’m going to keep pushing. I’m going for #1. 😉)
Remember to Take the Long View
I’m writing all of this to remind you to take the long view. In the moment—during the process—you may often feel frustrated or discouraged, or that your efforts are inconsequential. But you really do need to push through that, because it’s only with consistent effort and patience and time that you will start to get results.
Think of the snowball effect. When you make a snowball, you start off with these teeny tiny snowflakes—they really do seem small and insignificant—but with effort and work on your part, they start to pack together and form a ball. And if you’re consistent with your effort, you can turn those insignificant snowflakes into a massive snowball.
It’s the same with our actions and goals. Eventually all of those actions—all of that effort—will add up to something significant, and we will achieve our goals.
Keep Pushing
Keep at it, even if you feel frustrated. Keep pushing and striving, even when your efforts feel insignificant. Be a little tough on yourself, because we have to sometimes. And try to take the long view, and remember that snowball effect.
Small actions do add up, and your effort will get results. You just need to be consistent.
Have you achieved any milestones while in the pursuit of your goals? Feel free to share your experiences in the Comments section below. Any milestone deserves to be celebrated. 😊
Recommended Resources
You’re reading Small Actions Do Add Up: On Making a Karate Top 20 List by Sabrina Bliem, originally posted on The Karate Shrimp. If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow The Karate Shrimp on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Leave A Comment