You know that saying, go big or go home? It sounds good, but really? It’s draining. Especially if you’re doing everything yourself – being artistic, being a mom, chasing business goals, dealing with snack requests, and mountains of laundry. So, let’s be clear: it’s totally fine to start small and stay consistent. It’s actually smart, doable, and often the only way to get stuff done.
When I began my creative thing, I thought I needed to have it all set – the awesome product collection, a super cool Instagram, a welcome email thing, getting seen on search engines, Pinterest stuff, a YouTube channel, AND be there for my kid. (I burned out fast.)
Eventually, I got that starting small wasn’t failing. It was just trying to survive. And even better – it was actually working.
Small Stuff Grows into Great Stuff
Starting small doesn’t mean you aren’t serious. It means you’re normal. It means you’re building something bit by bit, actually putting in effort without faking it.
I think about my old notebooks; some of my best thoughts came from tiny, messy starts. A flower drawing while my kid was sleeping became a whole fabric design. A quick saying I wrote while having coffee became a popular mug. None of that was planned. It all began small.
That’s pretty great. Showing up with what you have, where you are.
We often don’t even start because we think we should be better – more fans, more skills, more free time. But doing little things over and over again will get you there. The secret is to start small and stay consistent.
Why Keeping At It Is Better Than One Big Moment
These days, everyone wants instant success. Keeping at something doesn’t seem special. But it gets results.
Each time I chose to show up – even by just posting one design, writing a bit, or putting up one pin – I got better. Slowly, bit by bit.
That’s the cool part. When you start small and stay consistent, you get things moving. You prove to yourself that you can go on. And that’s way better than one viral moment you can’t do again.
Think of growing plants. You water a seed every day, not because you immediately see stuff happening, but because you know something is growing underground. Your thoughts are like that, too.
It’s Not Lazy. It’s Something You Can Keep Doing.
I felt bad for not doing more. More stuff, more offers, more effort. Let’s be honest: you only have so much energy, especially when you have to deal with snacks, story time, and running after a little kid all day.
Picking a pace you can actually do isn’t being lazy – it’s being smart. It means you’re in it for a while.
I’d rather go slow and keep going than get super stressed and quit. I’ve done both, and trust me, being consistent is better.
What Starting Small Looks Like
Here’s what “starting small” looked like for me:
- Putting up one new design each week on my online shop
- Writing one blog post every Wednesday while my kid napped
- Drawing for 15 minutes every other day
- Putting one pin up on Pinterest each day
- Recording short TikToks of what was really going on (sometimes with a kid yelling)
It wasn’t anything special. But it was real life. And it worked.
People think you have to know everything from the start. But really? You figure it out as you go. Just do one little thing at a time. Just start small and stay consistent.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
When you’re scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest and see fancy launches, tons of products, or content creators with stuff going up every day – it’s easy to feel behind. But you’re not seeing everything.
Every “big” thing came from a bunch of small ones. Lots of choices, tests, and changes.
You can go at your own speed. Just because your thing doesn’t look like someone else’s, doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
Build Something Real
Keeping at it isn’t just about doing stuff often – it’s about doing it on purpose. Showing up for what you want in small, doable ways. Making it part of what you do.
You’re not trying to be famous super quickly. You’re building something real that will last. Something that shows who you really are.
The page of drawings I do today might become a product next month. The colors I use for a sticker might become a whole design later. But it all begins in a quiet moment, with a pen and a bit of free time.
A Few Easy Ways to Start Small (And Keep Going)
Want some ideas? Here are some ways to start right now:
- Pick one place to be online. Don’t try to do everything. Start where you like being.
- Set a tiny goal for each day. 10 minutes of writing, 1 drawing, 1 pin – it counts.
- Do stuff in groups when you can. Make 3 TikToks one day, then put them up during the week.
- Keep track of how much work you do, not how well it goes. I use Notion to log my tiny wins and keep my creative goals visible.
- Create stuff first, then look at stuff online. Open your sketchbook before Instagram.
These don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be yours. It all works when you start small and stay consistent.
My Slow Progress — and Why It’s Good
If I had waited until I “was ready,” I’d still be waiting. Instead, I chose to start without being perfect, starting small, and keeping at it.
Now I have:
- Lots of designs on different sites and in my shop
- A nice blog where I share how I do things
- Lots of people seeing my stuff on Pinterest because I put stuff up every day
- A way of doing things that works with my life
Did it take a while? Yep. But it felt good. And that’s important.
You’re Doing Great
If no one has told you this lately – you’re doing well.
Starting small isn’t weak. It’s smart. Keeping at it isn’t boring. It’s brave.
And if today you only have 10 minutes to draw or write – that’s still progress.
You don’t need to start with a big splash. You just need to start.
Go slow. Respect your energy. Nurture your thoughts.
And remember: going slow and steady? It’s still getting somewhere. All you need to do is start small and stay consistent.
Still unsure about your idea? If you’re starting small and wondering if your idea is any good, check out this pep talk I wrote : How To Believe In Your Idea (Even If It Feels Totally Out There) 💜You might find it helpful!
Need someone to cheer you on or want to share how you’re doing? I’m here – and I’ll bring the coffee! ☕💜
