Small Steps or Same Struggles, You Choose
We often think of habit-building as a grind.
A to-do list. A box to check.
But it’s not just about what you do, it’s about who you’re becoming.
Let me say that again.
It’s not just about what you do, it’s about who you’re BECOMING.
Every habit is a thread in the fabric of your future.
That’s why the real power of habit-building comes when you learn to zoom in and zoom out.
The Zoom Framework: One Habit, Three Perspectives
You don’t need an hour to reflect on your habits.
You just need one minute of awareness.
Let’s take one habit as an example:
Habit: Prioritize My Day
• Zoom In: What matters most today?
• Zoom Out: I’m becoming more intentional with how I spend my time.
• Zoom Way Out: My life is full of healthy relationships and meaningful accomplishments.
That’s how habit-building changes you: it grounds your present, shifts your perspective, and reshapes your legacy.
Try it with anything:
• A workout
• A journaling session
• A conversation with your kids
All of them have power when seen through this lens.
Occasionally Great vs. Consistently Good
There’s a myth we love to believe:
That greatness is about heroic effort.
But real change comes from quiet consistency.
Jim Collins talks about being occasionally great vs. consistently good in his book Good to Great.
He introduces the concept of the Flywheel Effect, momentum that builds not through bursts of intensity, but through steady, focused motion over time.
James Clear echoes this in Atomic Habits:
“Most people need consistency more than they need intensity.”
Let’s look at the numbers:
Assume a 40-year adult life. Occasionally great = 1x/week. Consistently good = 5x/week.
Sleep 7+ hours
Occasionally Great - 2,000 nights
Consistently Good - 10,000 nights
Long-Term Impact - Energy, health, clarity, longevity
30-min workout
Occasionally Great - 2,000 sessions
Consistently Good - 10,000 sessions
Long-Term Impact -Endurance, strength, longevity
Set aside 5min for prayer
Occasionally Great - 2,000 prayers
Consistently Good - 10,000 prayers
Long-Term Impact - Spiritual depth, peace, focus
Read 5+ pages
Occasionally Great - 520+ books
Consistently Good - 2,600 + books
Long-Term Impact - Perspective, knowledge, creativity
Write down 3 wins for the day
Occasionally Great - 2,000 wins
Consistently Good - 10,000 wins
Long-Term Impact - Optimism, momentum
Quality time with your kids
Occasionally Great - 2,000 memories
Consistently Good - 10,000 memories
Long-Term Impact - Bonding, trust, lasting connection
1hr digital detox
Occasionally Great - 2,000 hrs away from technology
Consistently Good - 10,000 hrs away from technology
Long-Term Impact - Presence, mental clarity
10,000 steps a day
Occasionally Great - 10 million steps
Consistently Good - 50 million steps
Long-Term Impact - Health, vitality, movement
The difference?
One path looks impressive in moments.
The other? It transforms you over decades.
Final Thoughts
Your legacy isn’t built by what you occasionally rise to do.
It’s built by what you return to, over and over again.
Jim Collins reminds us that greatness is a process.
James Clear shows us that identity is shaped by repeated action.
So pick a habit.
Zoom in. Zoom out. Zoom way out.
And start becoming the kind of person you’ll be proud to be. 💯