Achieving Large Goals: The Importance of Breaking Them Down

In the pursuit of significant objectives, such as addressing climate change, it is essential to recognize that these goals can often feel overwhelming. A recent podcast episode illustrates this concept through a relatable analogy involving a teacher and a group of elementary school children. The teacher lays out pieces of paper on the floor, and the students must step only on these papers to reach the teacher for a high five. This exercise serves as a metaphor for how we can approach large goals by breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps.

The Analogy of the Pieces of Paper

The pieces of paper represent smaller goals or milestones that lead to the ultimate objective—giving the teacher a high five. Initially, the papers are placed close together, making it easy for the child to step from one to the next. As the exercise progresses, the teacher removes some pieces of paper, increasing the distance between the remaining ones. This change illustrates how, as we strive for larger goals, we may encounter obstacles that make the journey more challenging.

When faced with a larger gap to jump, it becomes evident that without the smaller steps (the pieces of paper), reaching the final goal becomes significantly more difficult. This analogy can be applied to various life goals, such as:

• Achieving a big house: Instead of focusing solely on the end goal of homeownership, one can break it down into smaller steps like saving for a down payment, improving credit scores, and researching neighborhoods.

• Pursuing a professional sports career: Aspiring athletes can set smaller goals such as improving specific skills, participating in local leagues, and seeking coaching.

• Building a music career: Musicians can focus on smaller milestones like writing songs, performing at local venues, and networking within the industry.

The Importance of Small Goals in Climate Change

The podcast emphasizes that the same principle applies to addressing climate change. The challenge of combating climate change can feel insurmountable, leading to feelings of confusion and helplessness. However, by breaking down the larger goal of reducing climate change into smaller, actionable steps, individuals can contribute meaningfully to the cause.

Steps to Take

1. Look Inward: Start by assessing personal habits and making changes to reduce individual carbon footprints, such as minimizing plastic use and opting for reusable products.

2. Get Involved Locally: Engage with local organizations focused on environmental conservation. This could involve volunteering for clean-up events or supporting community initiatives aimed at sustainability.

3. Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about climate issues and share knowledge with friends and family. Understanding the science behind climate change can empower individuals to take action.

4. Advocate for Change: Support policies and politicians that prioritize environmental protection. Voting for representatives who align with conservation values is crucial for systemic change.

5. Participate in Community Projects: Join or initiate local projects that aim to address climate issues, such as tree planting, habitat restoration, or educational programs about sustainability.

Conclusion

The journey to achieving large goals, particularly in the context of climate change, requires patience and persistence. Just as the child in the podcast must step on each piece of paper to reach the teacher, individuals must take small, deliberate steps to make a difference. By recognizing that progress is made through incremental achievements, we can collectively work towards a healthier planet. Each small action contributes to the larger goal, and together, we can create meaningful change in the fight against climate change.

After looking at the news this week and seeing two hurricanes rip through various countries causing trillions in damages, it's hard not to think about climate change and how everything is getting worse. I find it difficult to know how we are doing. We hear about international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Convention of Biological Diversity and we expect things to get better, but every time a report is written we hear about how things keep getting worse. Wouldn't it be nice to have a way of tracking how countries, states/provinces, cities, and even companies are holding up their end of the bargain? Well, we might just have a way to do that and it's called Earth System Boundaries.

 

In this episode, I am going to talk about these ESBs and the 7 gaps that exist to achieve these metrics.

 

Link to article: https://go.nature.com/3UPXg8U

 

I launched this podcast to help people understand what is happening in the ocean and how they can help so I can stay connected to the ocean and its conservation. But I did not know that I would reach this many people when I started and it makes me want to do more in science communication.

 

In this episode, I am going to tell you the milestone I hit and why I want to continue to do the podcast...and how I would like to expand my reach through other platforms.