Small Changes Lead to Big Results

2-Minute Read

Small Changes, Big Impact

We often think that in order to see real progress, we need to make huge, sweeping changes in our lives.... totally not true.

It’s easy to believe that only intense, dramatic efforts can bring us big results. But in reality, the growth we're looking for is always a few small, consistent changes away.

In running, training, and life in general, the secret to long-term growth doesn’t require a life overhaul. In fact, that's the worst thing for us. It is impossible to stick with. Real success is unlocked through small, intentional actions we take every day. These small changes compound, building a solid foundation for improvement and success.

The Power of Tiny Adjustments

When we commit to incremental changes, they don’t always feel monumental.

For example, skipping one easy run or deciding to skip your dynamic warmup / stretch seems insignificant at first. But over time, these seemingly small choices start adding up, and not in the way you'd like. 

Conversely, the same is true in strength training. We’re not aiming for one massive lift all of a sudden - we’re focused on consistent, smaller efforts that add up to lasting results.

It's Faster than you think

The 10% rule is a great example.

Increasing your mileage by 10% each week (with recovery / cutback weeks) feels really slow in the beginning. Progress always feels slow in the beginning. But soon (very soon) it'll compound. And it'll compound so fast, it'll feel like magic (and you'll be running a lot of miles).

When done consistently over months or years, these small, cumulative efforts translate into significant progress. And through consistent action, you’re building mental toughness, fine-tuning your technique, and strengthening your overall endurance.

It Changes Who You Are

Small actions create momentum. When we begin to build these habits, we start to see them snowball. The first week of consistent running or strength training feels like a struggle. The second week, you begin to feel some progress. By the third or fourth week, it starts to feel easier. This is where the magic happens — we start to see and feel the progress, and it’s not just in the physical gains. It’s the satisfaction of building routine, the confidence in knowing we’re taking action, and the increased resilience to face challenges.

Eventually, these small daily efforts don’t just add up in terms of fitness — they begin to shape our identity. We become runners, we become athletes, we become people who take action and follow through. And that transformation is what ultimately leads to big results.

Patience, Friend

The key here is to focus on the small, intentional changes and be patient with the process. Progress doesn’t always look like a straight line, and it doesn’t always feel dramatic in the moment. But it’s those consistent little wins — those days where you say, “I’ll do it today,” and follow through — that create lasting results.

Final Thoughts

In the long run, big results are built on the foundation of consistent small steps. Don’t worry if you’re not seeing immediate, massive changes. The true power lies in the steady, intentional work you put in each day. Focus on those small, actionable steps, and watch as they add up to something much greater than you ever expected.

With this mindset, we build a routine we love and train consistently. Because with consistency, we build passion.