Baby Steps, Big Steps, and Leaps
Many years ago, I was part of a volunteer group working on a project. We were making little progress, and what progress we’d been able to make had been painfully slow. I introduced an idea which would jump us forward significantly, but it required everyone to get over themselves and do the work.
One of the biggest whiners in the group (whining was a favorite activity of many of the members) piped up, “Baby steps! We need to take baby steps!”
I looked at her and in my most polite butter-would-not-melt-in-my-mouth tone replied, “I am 40 years old, and have no more time for baby steps.”
A couple of the other women then proceeded to lecture me about my tone, and everyone in the group (except me) voted to take the next baby step.
I left the group shortly thereafter.
Sometimes baby steps are necessary to start a particularly daunting project, or to pick up again after getting sidetracked. But sometimes, you have to leap.
Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.—David Lloyd George, British prime minister
