The Power of Small Wins: How to Stay Motivated as an Entrepreneur

Why Small Wins Matter

Hey friends! We survived all 277 days of January! Go us! 🎉 Now we’re tackling February, and I’m here to talk once again about the daily struggles of entrepreneurship and how to stay motivated as an entrepreneur.

As we all know, running a business can be an emotional rollercoaster—the highs, the lows—it’s a lot to take in sometimes! It’s easy to get caught up chasing the next big sale or milestone, but today, I want to shift our focus to the small wins that keep us going.

Our DIY Bouquet Pop up from this past weekend!

Let me share something from my own business. I own multiple businesses in completely different industries, one of which is a salon/shop in Dahlonega, Georgia, called Little Sister. We’ve been open for about four months now, and let me tell you—starting a brick-and-mortar business has been a beast of its own! Completely different from my design company, which is mostly online.

Since opening, we’ve been purchasing inventory and brainstorming the next great product daily. Our sales have been steady, but there’s always room for growth. Every person in Dahlonega warned us about January—how gut-wrenchingly slow it would be. So, we took that as an opportunity to get creative!

We packed our weekends with classes, floral pop-ups, and even partnered with a local baker for a sourdough pop-up. This small shift—this small win—totally changed our business. Not only did we make January profitable, but we also strengthened our community in the process.

Small wins add up to big victories.

The Science Behind Small Wins

Did you know there’s actual science behind why small wins matter? Every time you complete a task—whether it’s checking off a to-do list item, having a productive conversation with a potential client, or even just working up the courage to introduce yourself to someone—your brain releases dopamine.

Dopamine = motivation.

The more small wins you stack up, the more your brain fuels you to keep going. That next big thing you’re after? It’s just a series of small wins away.

What Counts as a Small Win?

If you’re working on your health:
✅ Getting up a little earlier to take a walk = small win.
✅ Going to the gym after work = small win.
✅ Choosing a nutritious option at a restaurant = small win.

If you’re growing your business:
✅ Sending a pitch email = small win.
✅ Posting on social media = small win.
✅ Making a connection at a networking event = small win.

Each small win moves you closer to your long-term goal. Success is a staircase, not a doorway. – Dottie Walters

How to Track & Celebrate Small Wins

📝 Keep a Win Journal – Write down your daily or weekly small wins so you can look back and see your progress.

📌 Create a Visual Tracker – Use a checklist, a whiteboard, or even sticky notes on a wall. Remove a sticky note every time you accomplish a win!

🎉 Reward Yourself – Treat yourself to coffee, a walk outside, or something small that brings you joy. (In my world, that means going antiquing!)

📢 Share Your Win – Post about it on social media, or text me—I would love to hear about it!

✨ Reflect on Your Growth – Remember the small beginnings, the little steps that led you to where you are today. They’ll keep you humble and motivated.

Overcoming Self-Doubt & Setbacks

Self-doubt and setbacks? They’re normal. I can guarantee there will be days you’ll want to quit. Days when you’ll think, this is way too hard.

But here’s the thing: Progress, not perfection.

Shift your mindset from “I failed” to “I learned.”

Failure becomes easier when you realize that every failure is a lesson. It’s just a mental note saying, Don’t do that again! If you feel stuck, break your goals into even smaller wins.

Every big success starts with small, consistent wins.

Let’s Track Our Wins Together!

I challenge you to join me in tracking our wins over the next 30 days. Let’s do it together! Who’s in?

I’ll start: My small win this week is that I met with five new potential clients. Now, I may not earn all five leads, but I perfected my sales pitch five times. And even if one person decides to book with me—that’s a win in my book!

Now it’s your turn: What’s one small win you can celebrate today?

Drop it in the comments, send me a DM, or write it in your win journal. Just make sure you recognize it!

Best of luck out there—know that I’m rooting for you and every single small win! 🎉