What if the secret to reigniting your career, strengthening your leadership, or finding clarity in life wasn’t a bold leap but a small step?

Consider this: BJ Fogg, a behavior scientist at Stanford University, began transforming his fitness by doing just two push-ups after every restroom break. It seemed almost laughably simple, but that tiny habit snowballed into 50–70 push-ups daily over time.

This story shows how small, intentional actions called micro-moves can lead to extraordinary breakthroughs.

Yet, if you’re a high achiever, embracing micro-moves can feel counterintuitive. When you’re driven by results, small steps might seem too insignificant to matter. But here’s the truth: Purposeful progress starts small.

What’s Holding You Back?

To truly awaken your potential, it’s essential to identify and overcome common barriers to embracing micro-moves:

Obstacle 1: The Desire for Immediate Results

The Challenge: You’re results-oriented, and losing momentum is easy when you don’t see instant wins.

Reframe It: Small actions compound over time. Remember, “a 1% improvement each day leads to being 37 times better in a year,” as James Clear highlights in Atomic Habits.

Your Leadership Micro-Move:

• Instead of tackling every team challenge at once, commit to one small action—like starting every meeting with a 30-second gratitude exercise.
• Celebrate incremental wins: Notice how your team responds after one week, one month, and six months.

Obstacle 2: The All-or-Nothing Mentality

The Challenge: Perfectionism can make small progress feel inadequate. If you can’t do everything perfectly, why start?

Reframe It: Every micro-move is a seed that, when nurtured, grows into something significant. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s showing up consistently.

Your Career Micro-Move:

• Reach out to one new connection weekly to expand your professional network.
• Write a single sentence each day to refine your career vision.

Obstacle 3: Doubting the Power of Simplicity

The Challenge: You’re wired to think big, so small actions might feel trivial or irrelevant.

Reframe It: Big results are the sum of small actions done consistently. Consider the person who expresses a daily thank-you by email, text, or in person, creating a ripple effect of strengthened relationships.

Your Confidence Micro-Move:

• Start every morning with one empowering affirmation, such as, “Today, I will live with purpose and clarity.”
• Spend five minutes reflecting on a tiny action that aligns with your larger goals.

Turn Ambition Into Achievement

What’s one micro-move you can start today? Choose something so simple it feels impossible to fail, like committing to one moment of stillness or clarity each morning.

Your Challenge:

• Pick a micro-move that aligns with your career or personal goals.
• Commit to it for seven days.
• Reflect on its impact on your confidence, clarity, and momentum.

Remember, lasting success doesn’t come from dramatic overhauls but from small, consistent actions aligned with your purpose. The ripple effect of these tiny steps leads to extraordinary breakthroughs.

You can awaken your potential in 2025. Your journey starts today with one micro-move.

Jo-Aynne Von Born, Leadership and Executive Coach

Reprinted from my weekly newsletter, Awaken Your Potential. Join here to receive for free.