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title: Always start small
created: 2025-03-05T05:32:10
modified: 2025-12-06T14:01:07
---

> _“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little; do something.” — Sydney Smith_

> _[“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” — Mother Teresa](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mother_teresa_105649)_

> _“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” — Mother Teresa_ [^1]

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A [habit](be-a-habit-and-routine-machine.md) must be first _established_ before it can be _improved_.

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<https://sketchplanations.com/categories/starting>

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[The One Percent Rule](the-one-percent-rule.md)

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# The Rule of One Hundred

If you spend 100 hours a year in any discipline (which is only 18 minutes a day), you’ll be better than 95% of the world in that discipline.

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# Anything above zero [compounds](the-compounding-effect.md) positively

* One doesn’t seem like much, but it’s something real. At zero, you’re still dreaming.
* Two is twice as good as one, but one is infinitely better than zero.

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# Don’t Underestimate the Power of 5 Good Minutes

* You’re always 5 good minutes away from feeling better.
	* 5 minutes of exercise—your energy shifts. 
	* 5 minutes of writing—your mind clears. 
	* 5 minutes of reading—your perspective changes. 
	* 5 minutes of breathwork—your body resets. 
	* 5 minutes of conversation—your mood improves.
* Whenever the day feels overwhelming and tough, try to ask yourself: _What’s the best way I can spend my next 5 minutes?_
* 5 minutes of present energy is worth more than an hour of scattered energy.

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# Small Things Become Big Things

> For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
> For want of a shoe, the horse was lost.
> For want of a horse, the rider was lost.
> For want of a rider, the battle was lost.
> For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost.
> All for the want of a horseshoe nail.

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# The Minimal Viable Action (Micro Action)

* If you’re having trouble sticking to a new [habit](be-a-habit-and-routine-machine.md) , try a miniature (2-minute) version until it becomes automatic.
* Take tiny baby steps. _Do less than you’re capable of, but do it more consistently than you have before._
* [不靠衝勁](do-not-use-your-willpower-unless-you-absolutely-have-to.md)，靠低門檻 [開始](just-getting-started.md)

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# A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

* Running one mile has more in common with running a marathon than sitting at home.
* Investing $100 has more in common with being a millionaire than being broke.
* Writing one sentence has more in common with writing a book than never writing one.

Every race starts with one step. Every fortune starts with a small deposit. Every book begins as one sentence.

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# Success is about stacking tiny/small wins.

* ❌ [失敗](failing-forward-turns-setbacks-into-stepping-stones.md) 為成功之母
* ✅（微）小成功為成功之母

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[Just focus on the next decision](just-focus-on-the-next-decision.md)

[^1]: _“You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop.” — Rumi_