Success, both in business and life, is often determined by two key factors: knowing when to act and recognizing the value of small, consistent victories. Entrepreneurs tend to focus on the big win—the overnight success, the blockbuster deal—but the truth is, most lasting success comes from getting these two elements right: timing and incremental progress. Let me explain why these matter more than you think.

Timing Is Everything—But Most People Get It Wrong

In business, timing can be the difference between success and failure, yet many entrepreneurs operate with blinders on, missing key moments to act or pivot. The right move at the wrong time is the wrong move. Whether you’re launching a new product, scaling your operations, or closing a deal, timing is crucial.

• Know Your Market: You have to understand the rhythms of your market. Launching a new product when demand is at its highest maximizes impact. Too soon or too late, and you risk being irrelevant.

• Timing Your Communication: If you’ve ever sent out a sales message or pitched a client at the wrong time, you know how quickly you can lose an opportunity. Study the behavior of your audience—when are they most receptive? If you’re missing that window, you’re leaving money on the table.

Successful business people don’t just act—they act at the right moment. Whether that’s knowing when to launch a campaign, when to push a customer for a close, or when to step back and let a deal breathe, timing separates the winners from the losers.

Small Wins Compound Into Big Results

Most entrepreneurs ignore the power of small wins because they’re too focused on chasing the big score. But here’s the reality: big wins are built on the back of small, consistent victories. The kind that adds up over time. You’re not going to double your business overnight, but you can double your business by winning every single day.

• Consistency Beats Grandiosity: Show me an entrepreneur who’s consistent in their daily actions, and I’ll show you someone on their way to long-term success. It’s not about landing one massive deal. It’s about making every phone call, running every ad, tweaking every offer—all the small actions that, together, create exponential growth.

• Momentum Matters: Small wins build momentum. When you see progress, you feel motivated to keep going. Every small success moves you closer to the big win. If you only wait for that one big victory, you’re stalling your momentum.

Think about it like compounding interest. Each small win builds on the last. The effort you put in today isn’t wasted—it’s stored value. Small wins stack up and before you know it, you’ve built something significant. Most people quit because they don’t see results fast enough. But if you’re committed to small, strategic actions every day, you’ll eventually win big.

The Intersection of Timing and Small Wins

Here’s the trick: mastering timing and small wins together is what puts you in the top 1%. Not only do you need to act consistently, but you need to act when it counts most. It’s not just about taking action—it’s about taking the right action at the right time.

• Capture Opportunities as They Come: Small wins often come from seizing opportunities that others overlook because they think they’re too small or not significant enough. But guess what? Those small opportunities add up. Every time you capitalize on one, you build an advantage over those waiting for the “perfect” moment.

• Compound Your Efforts: Timing is about knowing when to leverage those small wins. A perfectly timed offer, conversation, or decision multiplies the value of the small actions that preceded it. Don’t wait for the stars to align before you take your shot—start building momentum with small wins, and the right timing will emerge naturally.

Build Your Success, One Win at a Time

If you want to succeed in business—or in any area of life—you need to master the art of timing and the power of small victories. Focus less on the overnight success story and more on the daily grind that gets you there. Act at the right time, capture every small win, and watch how success builds itself over time.

Remember, it’s not about luck. It’s about timing your actions and relentlessly pursuing small victories. Do that, and soon, you’ll find yourself landing the big wins you’ve been chasing all along.