Here's a mind-fuck of a truth: the things that change your life often don't announce themselves.
They slip in through the back door, masquerading as ordinary moments, routine decisions, or those "whatever" meetings you almost skip. I know because I've spent most of my career chasing big breaks, only to discover that breakthrough moments are sneaky little bastards.
Remember those domino effect videos? The ones where some patient soul sets up thousands of pieces just to knock them down? That's life, except we're all too busy looking for the grand finale to notice we're placing dominoes every damn day.
The Meeting I Almost Blew Off
Three years ago, I was sitting in what felt like the millionth corporate meeting of my career. You know the type. The kind where your laptop is open to emails and your mind is somewhere between lunch plans and your next actual "important" meeting.
I nearly didn't go. Almost sent the classic "sorry, stuck in another meeting" bullshit excuse. But I showed up, half-present and barely caffeinated.
In that room, during what felt like another waste of time, I made an introduction between two people who barely acknowledged each other. A throwaway moment. Eight months later, that connection led to a partnership worth millions.
Naval Ravikant says, "All the real benefits in life come from compound interest."
He's right, but here's what he doesn't mention: compound interest works in reverse too. Those small moments of showing up – or not showing up – compound just as powerfully.
The Email That Changed Everything
A friend of mine. We will call him Mark. Mark was stuck in career quicksand. Talented as hell, but convinced nothing he did would matter. One evening, over overpriced sushi and cheap sake, I asked him: "What if the smallest step actually mattered?"
It was a rhetorical question, the kind of pseudo-profound bullshit you say after too much sake. But something clicked. That night, he drafted an email he'd been avoiding for months. Just a simple note to a colleague.
That email led to a conversation, which led to a meeting, which led to an opportunity that changed his entire career trajectory. One email. One "fuck it, why not?" moment.
The Power of Showing Up (Even When It Feels Pointless)
Look, I get it. Most days feel like a grind. You're tired, overwhelmed, and questioning if any of it matters. I've been there. Hell, I was there this past Wednesday.
But here's what I've learned: showing up is a superpower. Not the glamorous kind with a cape and theme music, but the gritty kind that builds stuff that matters. One unsexy decision at a time.
Scott Galloway puts it perfectly: "Success is not a function of talent, but endurance."
I'd add: it's also about recognizing that every small action is a vote for who you want to become.
The .5% Rule
Want to hear something that sounds like complete bullshit but is absolutely true? A .5% improvement every day compounds to a 517% improvement in one year.
A “half a percent”.
That's not motivational speaker nonsense, That is math. And it works in every direction:
The extra five minutes you spend listening to someone
The workout you don't skip
The thank-you note you actually write
The introduction you make
The small kindness you show
Each one is a domino. Each one matters more than you think.
The Truth About Small Things
Some days, the weight of big decisions paralyzes me. I forget that life isn't built on dramatic moments. It's built on Tuesday afternoons. On random coffees. On "hey, you should meet this person" emails.
Adam Grant nails it: "Success is not about being the best. It's about being consistently good enough long enough for compound interest to work its magic."
Still don’t believe me.
Here’s how Beau Taplin nailed it. “Whoever said the small things don’t matter has never seen a match start a wildfire.”
What Now?
Start small. Ridiculously small. Like a tenth of a half percent (even that compounds to 20%+ in a year).
Send that email you've been avoiding
Make that introduction
Take that five-minute walk
Write that note
Show up to that "optional" gathering
Remember: Everything big starts small. And the things that will change your life probably don't look like life-changers right now.
They look like ordinary moments, waiting for you to show up.
We're all just doing our best. Assume positive intent.
Adi