The Tidal Wave is Overrated

Small actions done with consistency create velocity. And it's the velocity that we all want.

Trouble is we want what we want now—to lose the weight, get the promotion, make more money, or achieve that ideal life. We yearn for the results, for the transformation, as if it can materialize in an instant. So, we begin. We take that first step, full of ambition and promise.

But often, at the first sign of resistance, we falter. Maybe our plan wasn’t realistic. Maybe the initial enthusiasm fades, and the effort feels harder than anticipated. Whatever the reason, we stop.

We’ve all heard the advice to start small. We nod along, understanding that small, consistent actions lead to big outcomes over time. Yet, when the moment comes to commit, the voice of impatience often wins. We flip the quit switch, even as we know deep down that it’s the steady drip, the small but deliberate actions, that create real and lasting change.

I’m reminded of a Seth Godin blog post from years ago, titled “The Tidal Wave is Overrated”:

"Yes, it can lead to wholesale destruction, but it's the incessant (but much smaller) daily tidal force that moves all boats, worldwide. And far more powerful than either is the incredible impact of seepage, of moisture, of the liquid that makes things grow. Facebook and other legendary companies didn't get that way all at once, and neither will you. We can definitely spend time worrying about/building the tsunami, but it's the drip, drip, drip that will change everything in the long run."

This idea—that small, persistent efforts hold immense power—is both humbling and liberating. You don’t need to move mountains today. You only need to move a pebble. The beauty of this approach is that it’s accessible to everyone, right NOW. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You only have to start with what you can do and commit to doing it consistently.

Pick something you know you can stick to. The act itself doesn’t need to be monumental. What matters is the momentum you build by showing up, day after day.

As Warren Buffet famously said, “The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”

Every small action you take is forging those chains, building strength and momentum in ways you can’t yet see. Over time, those small actions compound, creating not just velocity, but transformation.

So start. Not with what you don’t know how to do just yet, but with what you can do right now.

Your future self is calling - answer the call, and get walking.