Redefining Progress

Quick reminder that "3 steps forward, 2 steps back" is still 1 step further than where you started.

I know that sounds like one of those "If a train leaves the station at 60mph…" math problems we learned in school, but it's something I often remind clients and teams (ok and mostly, myself) - that the idea of "progress" doesn't inherently come with any sort of measuring stick.

Baby steps are still steps.
Incremental progress is still progress.

What does this have to do with running a design business? Everything.

Because leveling up your business *could* require Really Big Changes…but it could also just need a Few Small Shifts.

In an industry that's so centered around what's new, what's next, what's 'innovative,' at a time when our brains are overstimulated and our attention spans have withered to seconds, when we look outward we've become conditioned to only seek (or notice) novelty, shiny new things, big important swings in our big important creative work.

When we look inward though, at our own companies, we often apply the same pressure to swing for the fences when thinking about leveling up and undergoing organizational change.

"Well, if we're going to do X, then we may as well do Y, which then means Z, and then OMFGnevermind." 🫣 😵‍💫 😵 🫠

We get overwhelmed and intimidated by the work ahead, shove it all back in the closet, and make it tomorrow's problem. Or next month. Or next year.

But here's my reminder to you agency owners and creative leaders out there. Minor moves today *will* compound over time to create major momentum. Progress can be small. Progress can be subtle. Progress can look like lots of small, steady steps.