Success One Inch at a Time?

On more than one occasion, I've been known to "swing for the fences." As far as I'm concerned, achieving a small goal and achieving a very large goal--well, it's the same work, the same process. I figure: Hell, you might say "Super-size me. I'll take the larger, more interesting goal please."

I've been doing this my whole life, but there is a cost to always hunting big game. When failing to get the big results you're looking for-EVERYBODY knows about it. What's interesting is that while the work and the process of achieving what you want, big or small is exactly the same, so are the number of so called "failures" or "challenges" or "setbacks" that occur.

And while the mechanics of getting what you want are the same-it doesn't feel the same, does it?

This is why most people shoot for the small stuff--if they fail to get it, most people aren't going to know about it, so it's safe to try for it. In essence, when doing this, they're saying: "Well, just in case I don't make it, at least it's something I can manage emotionally and my friends won't crucify me for failing, therefore there's nothing to lose: might as well try..."

It's a bad strategy, it usually doesn't work and I can see the appeal of doing it-no emotional downside. Damn, it's tempting. It does get old having family look at you funny- you just know they are wondering: "Wonder what cacamamie scheme Chris is working on now?" Maybe I'm just stubborn, but I can't help myself.

I don't know any other way to achieve what I want, that's legal anyway. I figure as long as I deal with the day to day stuff, solving or avoiding problems as they occur, I will eventually "make it." Yeah, it's obsessive and oh well, it is what it is.

Why this post? Hmm... I was assessing my financial net worth (negative at the moment), negotiating with creditors and scrambling to find money to cover next months bills, and found myself asking: Is it worth it?

So I dug a little deeper. I re-read some of my old success journals, place a few calls with a couple of old friends/fellow risktakers, and took a fresh look at where I am and where I could be next year:

Assuming we get capital in the business, my financial problems are instantly resolved and I make it (wealthy).

If we don't get capital, I land a contract job in January and I'll probably be okay in about 5 to 10 years.

So is it worth it? At the end of the day, the answer had better be "yeah," although the jury's still out on this one.

What about succeeding one inch at a time? It sounds risky as hell. Those of you who practice this method and have succeeded, please post your comments. It's probably a smart tactic, although I only use it when solving a problem. Let us know. ~C