Do you ever start your week with a sense of overwhelming dread because of all that is needing to be accomplished?

As we stand at the edge of a brand-new week, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things on our to-do lists. Projects need attention, deadlines loom, and all those personal goals are just waiting for our commitment. But before we let the wave of the week's demands sweep over us, let’s pause and remember a simple, yet powerful fable:

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

While we definitely have no intentions of eating elephants (they’re much too magnificent!), the message behind this age-old story is incredibly relevant. Life, business, investments, and personal growth can sometimes feel like daunting giants — huge and hard to conquer. The key is to tackle them step by step, breaking those massive tasks into small, manageable pieces.

The Elephant in Your Week

Think about your goals this week. Maybe it's analyzing a potential commercial real estate deal, finalizing paperwork, or reaching out to new investors. Or maybe it's even more personal — like dedicating time to learning about a new investment strategy or simply keeping up with the Wise webinars and community events. All these tasks, big or small, can pile up and start feeling like an elephant-sized challenge.

The trick is to remember that you don’t need to do everything all at once. You need only to do one thing at a time.

Bite-Sized Goals

Here's how we can break it down:

1. Define Your "Elephant": What’s that one big goal you want to achieve this week? Whether it's related to growing your portfolio or something more personal, define what you want to accomplish. Give it a name — make it tangible.

2. Carve It Up: Break that big goal into smaller actions. If your goal is to analyze a new investment, perhaps your "bites" are: 1) Research the area demographics, 2) Run financial projections, 3) Contact your network for potential partners, and 4) Schedule a meeting to discuss your findings. Each step is a bite.

3. One Bite at a Time: Focus on just one small task at a time. Don’t let the size of the elephant deter you from starting. Completing one bite at a time gives you a sense of progress — and progress builds momentum.

4. Celebrate Your Progress: After each bite, take a moment to acknowledge your progress. Whether it's a mental note, a small reward, or even just taking a deep breath, celebrate the steps you’ve taken forward. You’ll find that the elephant is getting smaller with every action.

Stay Connected

Remember, Wise Women, you’re not alone on this journey. As you face your Monday elephant, know that you have a community behind you. Whether you're working on your next commercial real estate investment or trying to navigate life’s complexities, we are here to support each other.

At our next networking meeting or CoffeeWise session, share what your “elephant” is. You might just find others who are facing similar challenges or who have already taken a few bites out of their own elephants. Together, we can inspire and support one another — because one bite at a time, we will all get there.

A Gentle Reminder for Today

As you start this week, take a moment to think of your elephant, then focus on just the first bite. Today, it could be as simple as making a phone call or writing a list of questions for your next deal. Remember, no matter how big your goals are, consistent small steps will always get you there.

So let’s kick off this Monday with confidence. The week may seem big and overwhelming, but just like that fabled elephant, we’re going to tackle it — one bite at a time.

Here’s to eating our elephants and achieving greatness, Wise Women!