Want to reach big goals without burning out? Learn how to stay consistent with goals using daily action, patience, and a mountain-of-pebbles mindset.
The Mountain Is Made of Pebbles
If you’ve ever struggled to figure out how to stay consistent with goals, you’re not alone. So many of us dream big — starting a business, writing a book, rebuilding a relationship, changing careers — but we get overwhelmed by how far away it all feels.
We assume big outcomes require big moves. What we forget is that the most meaningful progress usually comes from small, repeated actions over time.
That’s something I learned — and lived — on my walk across America.
The truth is, you don’t conquer the mountain in a single day.
You build it one pebble at a time.
The Day It All Clicked
Early on, I placed my faith in this idea thanks to Andrew Kivett, a fellow cross-country walker. When he sent me a copy of his book, he included a simple message:
“Just take the first step. Then do that 5 million more times.”
I didn’t know it yet, but that would become the foundation for the journey ahead.
The lesson was fully cemented during a stop in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I had the chance to tour the Hope’s Bridge Inc. sober living house with Austin Coats, and during the visit, we were joined by a local news crew. One of the reporters asked how many miles I’d walked so far.
I hadn’t looked at my tracker in a few days. When I pulled it up, the number hit me — just over 1,000 miles.
It was one of those moments that stopped me in my tracks. That number didn’t come from a heroic push or a dramatic sprint. It came from walking 20 miles here, 30 miles there, sometimes just 10 on a hard day. And it added up.
That’s when I realized something powerful:
I was doing the work, and the work was working.
Why We Struggle to Stay Consistent
Before that walk, I was someone who wanted results quickly. After graduating from UC Davis, I thought my first job would be a big one — something close to six figures, impressive, validating.
Instead, I ended up working minimum wage in a pet store.
It felt like a failure. I’d done “everything right,” so why did it feel like I was falling behind?
What I didn’t understand at the time is how to stay consistent with goals, especially when progress doesn’t look like a win yet. I didn’t need a perfect plan. I needed patience, process, and a rhythm I could return to — even when the finish line felt out of reach.
We give up because we expect results too soon.
We confuse speed with success.
Because of this confusion, we think being “behind” means we’re not capable — when really, it just means we’re still in the middle.
How I Coach Through the Middle
This is one of the most common themes I see in my coaching practice. Clients come to me feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like they’re not where they’re “supposed to be.”
They’ll say things like:
“I should be farther along.”
“I feel behind.”
“It’s too late.”
And I’ll ask a simple question:
“Compared to who?”
That question usually brings a long pause. Because often, they’ve been measuring themselves against an invisible, idealized version of who they thought they should be — or someone else entirely.
When we zoom out, it’s easier to see the pattern:
They’re doing the work.
They’re showing up.
They’re just in the middle.
What “Pebbles” Look Like in Real Life
The metaphor of the mountain being made of pebbles is more than poetic — it’s practical. Here’s what it looks like:
- Writing 200 words for your book
- Going for a short walk instead of scrolling
- Sending the follow-up email
- Choosing one home-cooked meal
- Saying “no” to something that drains your energy
- Journaling for five minutes
- Setting one clear boundary
These small actions may not feel significant on their own. But when repeated over time, they create momentum. That momentum builds confidence. And that confidence leads to results.
A Simple Process to Start Today
If you’re wondering how to stay consistent with goals in your own life, here’s a way to get started:
1. Define Your Mountain
What’s the big dream or goal you want to work toward?
2. Name Your Next Pebble
What’s one small action you can take today to move in that direction?
3. Commit to Repetition
Don’t focus on being perfect — focus on being present.
Do what you can, consistently. That’s how progress is made.
Ready to Walk the First Mile?
If you’ve got a dream that feels far away, or you’re tired of quitting halfway, I’d love to talk with you.
Let’s figure out your mountain.
Determine your first pebble.
Let’s get you walking again — with intention and clarity.
Book a free 15-minute call with me.
No pressure. No fluff. Just a real conversation about what you want, where you are, and how we get you there — one step at a time.
Bonus: Listen to the Full Story
Want to hear more stories from my walk across America? Check out my conversation with Austin Coats from Hope’s Bridge Inc. on The Never Peak Project podcast.
[Link to episode with Austin Coats]
Final Thought
Consistency doesn’t look like fireworks.
It looks like pebbles.
The results don’t come all at once.
They come from showing up, again and again.
You don’t need to leap the mountain.
You just need to move the next pebble.