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We all love a bold vision—until we realize our brains are wired to quit halfway through. In a world that rewards speed, how do you stay committed when life throws you curveballs?
To stay on track, you need small, repeatable actions that make the process rewarding now, not just later.
It took me six years to earn my coaching certification. Six years of stop-and-go progress, setbacks, and starting over.
Maybe you know the feeling. You set a goal, but life interrupts. Just when you get momentum, something urgent pulls you away. For me, it was my brother. He was going through one of the hardest times of his life. My sisters and I dropped everything to help him—for over a year.
When I finally returned to my initial goal, I wasn’t just picking up where I left off—I was starting over. But six years later, I started 2025 with my ICF certification and am ready to take this next chapter forward as a certified coach. Thankfully, those 6 years were full of valuable lessons.
These are the tiny habits that are the framework of the
strategy → organization → execution flow that kept me going:
Block time on your calendar
If it’s not scheduled as an important event, chances are you’ll skip it. Even during the busiest periods, I set a goal of spending 10 hours a week. Some months, I fell short. But when I showed up for those 10 hours, I made measurable progress over time.
Wake up 2 hours earlier
To stay on track with my 10-hour goal I woke up two hours earlier to get focused work in before the day hijacked my energy. And yeah, some mornings, I hit snooze. But instead of feeling guilty, I mark it as an ‘intentionally unproductive’ day! And the next day, I pick up right where I left off—no self-judgment. The key isn’t never missing a day; it’s making sure I always come back.
Focus on what actually moves the needle
You don’t have unlimited time, so ask yourself: Will this move the dial? Whether it was coaching one person, sending an email for advice, or breaking down certification requirements, these focused efforts added up.
Track Your Effort: Every Hour Counts
During stop-and-go periods, it’s easy to feel like you’re not making progress. That’s why I tracked every effort, no matter how small, across different categories. I also projected the time each task would take and compared it to the actual time spent—giving me a clear picture of my pace and where I needed to adjust. Seeing my progress laid out reminded me that every hour mattered, even when it didn’t feel like it at the moment.
The “3 Wins” Golden Rule:
We are our own harshest critics, forgetting how much we’ve actually accomplished. When you’re in it for the long haul, you have to celebrate small wins. Otherwise, your brain will trick you into thinking you’ve done nothing.
Keeping track is simple—
You can log them in a Google Doc, Notion, or your favorite notebook. Organizing them into weeks and months makes it even more powerful. Here’s an example of three small, meaningful wins:
✔️ Sent an email to Jackie for advice.
✔️ Read the certification requirements.
✔️ Had an amazing coaching session with Marisa.
Small wins aren’t just for your confidence—
They’re how others start to see your consistency, your thoughtfulness, and your grit. The work adds up. And it gets noticed.
If you can sprint, sprint. If you can walk, walk. Just don’t stop.
There were definitely moments when the finish line felt impossibly far. Instead of fixating on the distant goal of getting certified—which could feel discouraging—I shifted my focus to what was right in front of me. Rather than thinking about how far I had to go, I told myself, "I just need 1 more client this week," or "I just have to practice X hours every day and complete two recording sessions." Each small step got my A+ effort.
If I didn’t succeed, I simply repeated the process. Like the tortoise in the fable, I learned that slow, steady progress truly wins the race. Every small win brought me closer to my ultimate goal, even when life pulled me off course.
Getting my coaching certification after six years felt great. But if I’m being real, the biggest win wasn’t the paper, it was learning how to stay focused, motivated, and moving forward even when life did its best to derail me.
Does this story resonate with you? I would love to hear from you. Hit reply and ask away!
Keep making moves and I’ll see you next week for more managing up!
Before You Go
I help emerging leaders navigate the workplace and build careers they love—without burning out. If this story resonated with you, here are two ways we can connect:
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I leverage 18+ years in Stanford tech to help emerging leaders think strategically, build influence, and execute with confidence, so you’re seen, heard and valued where it matters most.