Start Small

 If there is one piece of advice I can share as we get this new year underway it would be related to growth and or change. Start small. New Year's resolutions have good intentions, yet the standard goals of losing weight, exercising more, stop smoking, drinking, or whatever your current vice you would like to distance yourself from, all have the tendency to be stop cold turkey and don't look back. For others it is to start a new business or implementing a new strategy for a current business endeavor. Whatever it is that you plan to embark on in 2026, I do believe that small victories and incremental steps forward should be your measuring stick for success instead of looking for a grand slam homerun in your first at bat in this fledgling new year. 

Wisdom. By definition the word refers to the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and good judgment to navigate life's complexities. A key word in that definition is experience. When it comes to growing, I have experienced my share of personal growth, much of which was not so pleasant at the time, but through those experiences I feel like my wisdom markers have grown exponentially. From my own dropped New Year's Resolutions, to a not so positive outcome for a restaurant venture, taking the advice to start out small might have created some early success and a foundation to grow and expand. 

Whatever it is that you want to accomplish this year, whether it be a resolution to exercise more or taking that step to open a new business, slow steady progress is part of the recipe for success. The rabbit came out running fast and took the early lead, yet we all know who ended up crossing the finish line first. If you want positive change to occur in your life, then you have to stack up several small wins so the foundation for the bigger victories has something to stand on when things get tougher. Paul shared this valuable bit of wisdom with his protege Timothy, "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." I Timothy 4:15. Progress is the key. Maybe your goal is to go back to school to advance yourself in your current job. Grand goal, just don't start out the semester with a full load and no plans to alter your lifestyle to compensate for the additional time that commitment will require. Planning on a new diet with a goal of getting back in shape? Instead of going cold turkey on the sweets, breads, and crunchy, salty snacks, creating a plan to eat less and exercise more will pay dividends. And if a new business is your goal in 2026, start out with a small budget and low, low overhead. Don't make the mistake of thinking bigger and quicker is better, remember Paul's advice, be diligent and show off your progress as you continue to grow. 

There is one other area that I want to always set as a goal each new day that I have been given to live. I want to deepen my faith relationship with God. Trusting God, following God, and serving God are areas where the small start creates a dichotomy of sorts. When we accept Christ as our Savior, that signals an all in decision, yet just as in any other venture, the broader our early approach, the harder it is to maintain for the long run. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said this about those who are on fire, but fizzle out, "The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." Matthew 13:20-21. When we ask God into our hearts and we commit to follow and serve, that is an all in commitment, but as in any relationship, growth comes with time and time takes time. It is over time that we learn and grow through listening, reading, praying, and meditating  which in turn allows us to grow in wisdom and discernment. Commit to God in a big way, gradual progress makes for continued growth. 

January 1, 2026 has already come and gone and with it some folks have already made a resolution to start something big and then left it sitting on the side of the road by January 2, 2026. Whatever it is that you want to start off the year doing more of or less of my advice for you today is to take it slow, start small, and gain some early wins. "The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches." Matthew 13: 31-32. Start small, grow big and mighty! 

Coach Carter