Weekly Snapshot: Start Small.

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Hi Friends,

Starting is the hardest part of anything. It might be going to the gym, eating healthy, applying for that job we always wanted, building our own company, or deciding what new product to sell.

We often procrastinate and wait for the perfect moment. Our head keeps playing our big vision that, in reality, is many years into the future. We get restless and dive into the deepest part of the water - only to drown. I’ve learned that starting big isn’t the correct way forward. The opposite is true.

If you’re starting something new, start small.

Take the first step carefully and remember that it should be well-thought-out and calculated, and most importantly, it must yield learnings for you to build a solid foundation for eventual growth.

For example, if you want to launch a food delivery app. Do not start servicing the entire city on day one. Instead, start with delivering to houses in a single street or in a colony with a few hundred houses. Once you have solved initial challenges and refined your playbook, only then expand your operations.

Here is another example: if you go to the gym and work out more than needed on your first day or week, you will tire yourself and might stop going to the gym altogether. Instead, if you show up daily and do just enough intensive training, you will develop a habit and stay motivated for a long time.

Remember, if you scale anything pre-maturely, you will fail spectacularly because your foundations must be rock solid before building a skyscraper on them. I admit starting small is not impressive and might seem insignificant, but I assure you it is the right thing to do.

Firstly, with small steps, you experiment and learn in a safe environment. Secondly, you refine your strategy based on the learnings. Finally, you get to be in control of the entire process.

We all have big plans and want to achieve them today, but the reality is different. In short, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

To achieve anything significant, we need time, effort, and ideal conditions. Just remember that a single drop of water might seem insignificant, but bring millions of water droplets together, and you have an entire ocean.

Start small.

💪 Wins of the week

  1. Development is picking up pace at work. I am happy to step in when it matters the most - it is all about teamwork and getting to the finish line together!
  2. I have made significant progress on a side deal - and had a wonderful experience polishing my selling skills. It’s so energetic and refreshing. 

🧐 Challenges & Learnings

  1. It’s challenging to stick to something if your heart is not in it, but sometimes, it’s critical to keep at it without changing course. The task might be difficult, but persistence and determination can get you to the finish line.
  2. If you’re heading into battle without preparation, you are doomed to fail. Your preparation must be better than your competition if you want to win. I don’t think people do their homework before diving in. Lack of preparation leads to surprises and eventual failure. 

🎯 Goals for Next Week

Next week is all about getting shit done and growing my sense of purpose.

  1. Learn how to calculate savings from using battery storage solutions versus fuel-based alternatives.
  2. Publish 1 article and 1 YouTube video.
  3. Stay focused on the tasks that matter.
  4. Gym!

📖 My Readings

This week, I read tons of articles on energy transition and a very interesting chapter from Trump’s Art of the Deal.

Donald Trump outlines the fundamental principles and attributes that he believes are essential for successful deal-making. These include:

  1. Intelligence: The ability to understand and navigate complex situations and information.
  2. Good Instincts: Trusting one's gut feeling or intuition in business decisions.
  3. Good Luck: Recognizing and seizing opportunities when they arise.
  4. Courage: The willingness to take risks and make bold decisions.

🎬 My YouTube Video

You need your profile to be perfect - and that starts with your resume. 🔖 In this week's video, I share resume-building best practices that I’ve developed over years of reviewing resumes as an entrepreneur and even while landing jobs myself.

✍️ Quote of the Week

“ Peace begins when expectations end"
— Buddhism.

Till next time.
Raheel Ahmad