In a world where productivity hacks, complex frameworks, and long-term strategies dominate the self-improvement conversation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by our ambitions. You may have already set a few meaningful goals—those SMARTER goals that promise change in 90 days—but even the most motivated among us can feel paralyzed once we’re actually standing at the starting line. The path forward looks steep, uncertain, maybe even impossible. So what should we do?
Just do the next right thing.
This isn’t a loophole to avoid real planning. It’s a mindset shift that allows you to move forward without letting fear or perfectionism keep you stuck. Because the truth is, big goals aren’t accomplished all at once—they’re achieved step by step, decision by decision.
The Trap of Overplanning
When we’re staring down a major goal, it’s natural to want a rock-solid plan. Detailed strategies feel safe. They give us the illusion of control. But more often than not, planning becomes a stall tactic. We tell ourselves we’re not ready to start because we haven’t figured everything out yet.
In reality, this kind of delay often stems from fear—fear of the unknown, of failure, of making the wrong move. So we plan, replan, and second-guess ourselves until the energy behind our goal fades.
Another common trap is becoming too attached to the first strategy we create. We make the plan sacred, even when it’s no longer working. Instead of adjusting course when we hit a roadblock, we get stuck trying to make an ineffective plan succeed. But goals should stay constant; strategies are meant to evolve.
Focusing on the what—the outcome you’re working toward—rather than the how—the path you take—frees you up to adapt without feeling like you’ve failed. Flexibility is a feature of progress, not a flaw.
Keep Your Goals in Sight
So if you’re not obsessing over a detailed roadmap, how do you stay aligned with your goals? By making them visible—literally.
Goals that disappear from view often vanish from memory. And if you’re not thinking about your goals, you’re not working toward them. Visibility builds momentum.
Put your goals somewhere you’ll see them every day: taped to your bathroom mirror, written on a sticky note on your computer, displayed on your phone’s lock screen, or posted on your refrigerator. Review them during your morning startup or nightly shutdown routine, or include them in your weekly planning session.
The more often you see your goals, the more likely you are to take meaningful steps toward them.
The Power of the Next Right Thing
With your goals in front of you, the question becomes: What’s the next right thing I can do?
This simple question cuts through the noise. It turns the abstract into the actionable. It’s the antidote to overwhelm.
This is where the concept of the “Big 3” comes into play. Each week, identify your top three priorities—your Weekly Big 3. These are significant actions that will move you closer to your goal and likely take a few days to complete.
Then, each day, choose your Daily Big 3—three specific tasks that deserve your full focus. These aren’t just items on a to-do list; they’re intentionally selected to align with your weekly goals.
Let’s say you’re aiming to cook more meals at home. Your goal: prepare 20 new recipes this quarter. For your Weekly Big 3, you might decide to research and choose seven recipes to try in the coming month. For one of your Daily Big 3, you could send a few friends a message asking for their favorite go-to meals or browse a cookbook for inspiration.
Step by step, recipe by recipe, you’ll get there. Each small action—however minor it may seem—is part of a larger arc of achievement.
Progress Is Built, Not Found
The beauty of “just do the next right thing” is that it works whether you’re charging ahead or recovering from a misstep. You don’t need a full plan to regain your footing. You don’t even need to feel inspired. You just need to know the next right thing—and do it.
This mindset keeps perfectionism and procrastination at bay. It invites you to focus on progress over perfection, consistency over complexity.
So if your goals feel far off or the path forward is unclear, don’t wait until you have everything figured out. Don’t try to build the perfect plan before you begin. Just do the next right thing.
And then the next one.
And then the next.
Before long, you’ll look back and realize you’ve gone farther than you ever thought possible.
