What does think big, act small look like in practice?

Taking massive action 24/7 is a good way to get a massive stroke. Our bodies start falling apart if they are subject constant amount of high stress and strenuous activities, while being deprived of time to relax and rest.

This analogy works in the business world as well. Focusing solely on what we believe to be the most lucrative opportunity at the moment, and betting all we have on it might be rewarding is more likely to overextend us and leave us broken.

What does this mean for you and me?

Well, for beginning, this is not an absolution to do whatever we want. Focused, highly-intense action is still a force to be reckoned with. But it should be used deliberately and appropriately.

Think of it as a reminder that we should tend after the business just like we tend after our bodies. It’s much easier to undertake highly strenuous activities if we have healthy eating and sleeping habits. These habits are results of many small things, from how we use the smartphone to what ingredients we buy and how we process them.

By taking proper care of our body, we have much more energy to spend on other endeavours, while also avoiding breaking ourselves in the process. I’ve been practicing martial arts for over two decades. It’s difficult to put in words how much good has it done for me, both physically and psychologically.

Analogous “tending after business” would be all the small habits and practices that are considered, well, good business. For example, practicing proper financial hygiene, and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. All these practices create, and sustain, a fertile ground for “massive action” you might want to take.

In other words, you are much more likely to reap the benefits of your bold innovation initiatives if you have a healthy business. Everything is connected, and everything adds to or subtracts from each other. Winning a risky gamble is luck, not genius.

Above is how I think about the “think big, act small” expression. Having a clear vision of either the destination or direction is paramount to creating a relentless strategic thrust much needed to get there. That is not to say that we should ignore taking care of the basics, else we risk ruin.