Small Actions have Large Consequences

“We need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that sometimes big changes follow from small events and that, sometimes, these changes can happen very quickly.” Malcolm Gladwell

The theme of our blog is “Changing the Face . . .” of anything we are a part of by being a leader with the courage to act on what needs to be done. In practicing this, myself, I keep looking for a big role to play in making a difference.

However, I hear from my pastor that it is the small things that we do, each day, that make a difference. Often it is simply the way that we do things that make the difference . . . like taking the time for a smile or a kind word, resisting the temptation to curse a fellow driver who has made a mistake, loving a friend who has been unkind or unreasonable rather than reacting in kind, being gentle with a colleague or subordinate who has made a mistake. The examples are myriad.

So, from a spiritual perspective, I need to focus on the small things. Okay, I get that.

Now, I read in my graduate studies that “small causes have big effects”, that revolutionary change often begins with a small start. My mathematical mind is intrigued with the concept of geometric progression in phenomena that spread like viruses – they keep doubling, a rate of growth that is massively larger with each iteration.

My mind is reeling with possibility:
• Uncle Cliff tells me to be careful what I say because it influences others in ways that I may never realize (see previous blog posts in the "Uncle Cliff series")
• My pastor tells me that I will make a difference in the small things that I do
• Experts in change theory advise me to prepare for small actions to have great consequence

For me, this is a powerful message. Each of us can make the world a better place … by being very clear about the kind of world we want for our children and ensuring that our actions can be the first step toward the revolutionary change we need!

Question to Ponder: As you progress through your normal day, examine your actions. Are you floating through your day, acting on habit or routine? Or, are you acting deliberately, ensuring that what you do has positive consequences that might be the first step to revolutionary change?