Episode Summary
This story draws a parallel between a child’s friendship bracelet project and the entrepreneurial journey. It’s a reflection on how excitement fades when results take time — and how we can regain focus by starting small, staying consistent, and celebrating progress along the way.
Show Notes
In this episode, we explore:
- How enthusiasm often fades once the real work begins
- Why “momentum loves completion”
- The power of starting small and staying patient
- What entrepreneurs can learn from a box of colorful rubber bands
Key Theme: Momentum Through Small Steps
This captures the core message of the episode:
- Big goals can overwhelm us
- Excitement fades when results take time
- Progress returns when we break things down
- “Momentum loves completion”
Transcript
Tonia Tyler (00:00)
Welcome to Confident Strides, the podcast. Quiet moments, powerful insights, a space to walk, reflect and grow. So picture this. I’m on the floor with my granddaughter and we are absolutely swimming in these tiny colorful rubber bands. You know, the friendship bracelet kind. She had the biggest plan, make a bracelet for every one of her 21 cheer teammates. Her excitement was honestly contagious.
That sounds so familiar. Kids go all in when inspiration hits. I remember my niece once promising to bake cupcakes for her whole class she got through, maybe three before wandering off. It’s adorable, but also a little bit like looking in a mirror, right? Totally. The best part was watching her sort those colors and assign each one to a friend. You could see her mind racing with ideas, almost like she was mapping out a whole strategy. But then reality set in as soon as she started stringing the first bracelet.
It’s wild how quickly that initial buzz can disappear. One moment you’re in creative overdrive, the next you’re sidetracked by a group chat or honestly anything less tedious. The half-finished bracelet left behind just says it all. Exactly. And there I was surrounded by abandoned rubber bands just laughing to myself. Because honestly, don’t we all do this as adults too? We dive in with excitement, make grand plans and then poof.
something distracts us. Yeah, it’s not just kids. Every entrepreneur I know has a drawer of half-baked ideas. The problem isn’t dreaming big. It’s realizing just how much time and patience those dreams actually require, which funnily enough brings up a bigger theme. Isn’t it interesting how starting something feels so different from actually doing the work? We get caught up in all the possibilities, like planning out each color for a bracelet or each piece of a new business.
What really gets me is how quickly enthusiasm can fizzle once the real work kicks in. You set out to make a masterpiece, but suddenly the details feel endless. Have you ever had a project just lose all its shine after step one? ⁓ definitely. I can’t even count how many times I’ve mapped out a grand vision, only to hit that wall once I realize it’s not going to happen overnight. That’s when the temptation to postpone or just give up creeps in. For sure, and it’s sneaky too.
We tell ourselves, I’ll get back to it later, but later often turns into never. It’s almost as if finishing feels less exciting than starting, even though progress should be motivating. Funny thing is, while I was sorting those rubber bands back into their compartments, I started to realize the process itself is part of the journey. Building something meaningful isn’t meant to be quick. It’s supposed to shape us, not just the thing we’re making. That actually reminds me finishing even one small thing can totally reignite your motivation.
Like, maybe today isn’t about 21 bracelets. Maybe it’s just about completing one and feeling good about that. You’re so right, because momentum loves completion. One little finished step can turn everything around. Sometimes it’s less about the big picture and more about honoring the small wins along the way. And honestly, celebrating those tiny victories keeps you moving forward. Whether it’s a single bracelet or a small chunk of a huge project progress, however little still counts.
Maybe that’s the secret. Focus on finishing just one thing with care and attention. Who knows? It might even bring back that original excitement you felt at the start. So for anyone listening, take a look at one of those unfinished projects you’ve got tucked away. What’s one small step you could wrap up today? Give yourself permission to celebrate that. You might be surprised at how much lighter you feel. Your path, your pace, your confidence.
Reflection Prompt
What project have you set aside that still calls your name? How might you break it into smaller, more joyful steps to see it through?
Call to Action
- If this episode spoke to you, join the Confident Strides community on Mighty Networks to share your insights and continue the conversation: https://bit.ly/4i1fhx2
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By Tonia Tyler | #ConfidentStrides | Sweet N Social
Confident Strides Podcast 
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