‘Think Big’ Is Bad Advice

How Hyper-Successful People Use Micro-Manifestation

The Myth of “Thinking Big”

What if I told you that think big!—that beloved, motivational, plastered-on-vision-boards-everywhere mantra—is actually stopping you from achieving massive success? That your well-intentioned grand dreams might be the very thing keeping you stuck?

I know, I know. That’s practically heresy in the world of self-improvement. We’ve been force-fed the idea that success belongs to those who dream the biggest, aim for the moon, and, if they miss, will at least land among the stars. Cute. But let’s be honest—most of us are just out here orbiting in circles, wondering why our grand plans never quite take off.

Because here’s the truth: the people who actually get to the moon (or build Amazon, win Olympic gold, or revolutionise an industry) aren’t sitting around dreaming big. They’re executing small—one step at a time.

Why “Think Big!” Fails More Often Than It Works

Here’s the thing: when you set a massive goal—say, writing a bestselling book, building a multimillion-dollar business, or finally becoming the kind of person who doesn’t forget their clothes in the dryer—you trigger a sneaky little process in your brain called overwhelm.

Neuroscience has a field day with this. The human brain, bless its efficiency-obsessed heart, hates uncertainty. The bigger and more abstract your goal, the more your brain panics. Instead of helping you map out a realistic game plan, it does what any sensible machine would do when faced with an impossible equation: it crashes. Enter procrastination, self-doubt, and the sudden, urgent need to reorganise your sock drawer instead of starting your novel.

Ultra-successful people? They’ve hacked this system. They don’t waste time trying to force themselves into belief mode with massive, intimidating goals. Instead, they focus on micro-shifts—small, strategic adjustments that compound over time to create seismic results.

Micro-Managing Your Manifestation

Take Jeff Bezos. The man didn’t wake up one morning and declare, “I shall build the most dominant e-commerce empire in human history!” No. He started by selling books. Serena Williams didn’t set out to become the greatest tennis player of all time in a single day—she mastered one stroke, then another, then another. And James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, didn’t write a bestselling book overnight—he wrote one solid blog post at a time.

This isn’t just anecdotal; it’s scientific. Studies in behavioural psychology show that small, achievable steps keep your brain engaged and motivated, creating a feedback loop of success. Unlike the “go big or go home” mentality, micro-manifestation is sustainable, adaptable, and far more effective for long-term success.

So, if you’ve been waiting for that one big breakthrough moment, maybe it’s time to rethink your approach. Because the real secret to success? It’s not about thinking bigger. It’s about shifting smarter.

How to Apply Micro-Shifts for Maximum Impact

1. Shift Your Identity in Small Steps

One of the biggest reasons big goals fail? They demand an instant identity overhaul. And let’s be honest—your brain is not a fan of drastic change.

You don’t just wake up one morning, stretch dramatically, and declare, “I am a bestselling author now!” (though if that works for you, by all means, carry on). The reality? Your brain has spent decades reinforcing your current identity. If you’ve been telling yourself, “I’m not disciplined” or “I’m just not a morning person” or “I’m terrible with money”—those beliefs are deeply ingrained. Simply willing yourself into a new identity overnight is like trying to turn a cruise ship around with one sharp yank on the wheel. Ain’t gonna happen.

But micro-shifts? Much more effective.

The Power of Small Identity Shifts

Instead of setting an enormous goal that your subconscious will instantly resist, start small:

• Instead of “I am a confident public speaker,” try “I am someone who shares my ideas clearly in conversations.”
• Instead of “I am an ultra-fit person,” try “I am someone who moves my body every day, even if it’s just a five-minute stretch.”
• Instead of “I am an organised person,” try “I am someone who spends five minutes decluttering my desk before I start work.”

Each time you take a small action aligned with your desired identity, your brain starts believing, “Oh, I guess this is who we are now.” It’s no longer a fight between “new you” and “old you.” It’s a seamless, gradual evolution.

How High Achievers Use This to Their Advantage

Let’s take a look at high performers. They don’t just magically become disciplined, confident, or wildly successful overnight. They inch into it. They built their success through micro-shifts in their identity.

J.K. Rowling – From Struggling Writer to Literary Icon

Before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon, J.K. Rowling wasn’t thinking, “I’m going to create the best-selling book series of all time.” She was a single mother on welfare, writing in cafés during her daughter’s naps. Instead of overwhelming herself with the identity of a world-famous author, she adopted a much smaller but critical shift: “I am someone who writes one page a day.” That small, consistent action eventually led to a publishing deal and the rest is history.

Steve Jobs – From College Dropout to Visionary Leader

Steve Jobs didn’t start by deciding to change the world with Apple. He didn’t even start by building computers. His first identity shift? “I am someone who experiments with technology in my parents’ garage.” That shift led to small innovations, partnerships, and eventually the birth of a company that transformed entire industries.

Serena Williams – From Young Tennis Player to GOAT

Serena Williams didn’t achieve tennis greatness by declaring, “I am the greatest of all time.” She and her sister Venus were trained by their father, who focused on refining one stroke at a time. Instead of thinking of herself as a future champion, she embraced micro-shifts: “I am someone who improves my serve every day.” Over time, those incremental improvements stacked up, leading to a legendary career.

The takeaway? Success isn’t about a grand leap. It’s about committing to tiny identity shifts that build into something extraordinary.

The point? You don’t fake it until you make it. You act like it—bit by bit—until it becomes you.

A Practical Exercise: Identity Micro-Shifting in Action

Try this:

1. Write down the identity you want to embody (e.g., “I am a person who prioritises health”).
2. Break it into micro-actions (e.g., “I drink a glass of water first thing in the morning.”).
3. Do it consistently until it becomes automatic.

Small changes. And before you know it, you’re not just thinking like a high achiever—you are one.

2. Optimise One Tiny Habit at a Time

James Clear nailed it with his 1% rule: improve just 1% daily, and within a year, you’ll be 37 times better at whatever you’re working on. That’s not manifestation—that’s math.

Consider the British Cycling Team, a group of athletes who were once so mediocre that bike manufacturers refused to sell them gear. Their coach, Dave Brailsford, didn’t overhaul their entire training overnight. He focused on marginal gains—optimising everything from sleep patterns to bike seat adjustments. A decade later, they dominated the Olympics and the Tour de France.

The same logic applies to you. Want to be more productive? Start with five-minute morning planning sessions. Want to improve your fitness? Walk for 10 minutes instead of committing to an aggressive (and soon-abandoned) two-hour gym routine. Micro-manifestations compound into mastery.

3. Reframe Failure as Data, Not Defeat

“Fail big,” they say. Why? Why not fail small—strategically, thoughtfully, and without wrecking your confidence in the process?

High achievers don’t just take wild swings and hope for the best. They fail in controlled environments, gathering data, tweaking their approach, and moving forward with precision. A tennis player doesn’t rebuild their entire game after one bad match; they analyse one weak serve and fix that.

Start treating failure like an experiment. If one micro-shift doesn’t work, adjust, not abandon. Big failures are painful. Small failures? Those are just stepping stones.

Why This Approach Works for Every Industry and Life Stage

If you’re thinking, “Sure, this works for tennis champions and tech geniuses, but what about me?”—stay with me. The beauty of micro-shifts is that they’re universal. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, pivoting careers, starting a business, or just trying to drink more water like a responsible adult, this approach works.

1. The Corporate World: Climbing the Ladder Without the Burnout

Let’s say you’re gunning for that executive role. Traditional advice might tell you to “act like a CEO now”—which is great until you realise that CEOs wake up at 5 AM, have 47 meetings before lunch, and somehow still have time to meditate. Instead of overwhelming yourself, micro-shifts help you build momentum without the burnout.

• Instead of forcing yourself into full “executive mode,” start with “I am someone who speaks up in meetings with well-thought-out insights.”
• Instead of trying to network with an entire industry overnight, try “I am someone who builds one meaningful professional relationship a month.”

Over time, these small actions snowball into leadership presence—and the title (and paycheck) follows.

2. Entrepreneurship: Building a Business Without Overwhelm

Starting a business is where thinking big can be downright dangerous. If you focus solely on “I must build a million-dollar business” before you’ve even secured your first client, you’ll likely spiral into stress and inaction. Instead, micro-shifts keep you focused on what actually moves the needle:

• Instead of “I am a successful entrepreneur,” start with “I am someone who solves one real problem for my target audience.”
• Instead of obsessing over a huge social media following, focus on “I am someone who posts valuable content consistently.”
• Instead of planning a massive launch, start with “I am someone who sells one offer to one person.”

This is how companies like Airbnb started—before it was a multi-billion-dollar empire, it was just two guys renting out an air mattress in their apartment.

3. Career Transitions: Shifting Without Feeling Lost

Making a career change—whether by choice or because life happened—can feel paralysing. You might think you need a total reinvention, but what you really need is a series of small, strategic shifts:

• Instead of “I need to have my entire future figured out,” try “I am someone who explores new opportunities with curiosity.”
• Instead of “I have to be 100% qualified before I apply,” shift to “I am someone who learns and adapts quickly.”
• Instead of waiting for the perfect job, start with “I am someone who reaches out to one new person in my desired field each week.”

4. Personal Growth: Becoming the Person You Want to Be

Maybe you’re not chasing a promotion or launching a business—maybe you just want to feel more confident, less stressed, or actually get through one book without checking your phone every five minutes. Micro-shifts make personal growth feel achievable instead of exhausting.

• Want to be healthier? Instead of “I need to overhaul my entire diet and exercise routine,” start with “I am someone who drinks a glass of water first thing in the morning.”
• Want to be more present? Instead of “I must meditate for 30 minutes daily,” start with “I take three deep breaths before checking my email.”
• Want to be a better friend? Instead of “I need to reach out to everyone I’ve ever lost touch with,” start with “I send one thoughtful message a week.”

No matter where you are in life, micro-shifts keep you moving forward without the pressure of an overnight transformation. It’s success without the stress—and that’s the real power move.

Conclusion: Forget Big Goals—Master the Art of Micro-Manifestations

Success isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about small, consistent shifts.

So here’s my challenge to you: stop obsessing over the big picture and start making the smallest possible improvement today. Just one. No pressure, no dramatic declarations—just a micro-shift.

Putting Micro-Manifestations into Action with the iNFINITE iMPACT Mentoring Program

Knowing what to do is one thing—actually implementing it is another. That’s where my iNFINITE iMPACT Mentoring Program comes in. If you’re an accomplished professional or high-achiever ready to make a meaningful shift in your life—whether it’s redefining success, navigating a transition, or scaling your impact—this program is designed to help you do it without the overwhelm. We don’t focus on vague “think bigger” platitudes; we create targeted, strategic micro-shifts that align with who you are now and who you’re becoming. With personalized guidance, high-level strategy, and accountability, you’ll start seeing tangible changes immediately—not in some distant, uncertain future. Because real transformation isn’t about a massive leap—it’s about the right small steps, taken consistently. Ready to make it happen? Let’s talk.

Send an email to OpenLockedDoors@gmail.com to book a discovery call.