How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything
I’ve encountered this concept in various forms over the years – the idea that small actions matter and compound into significant life impact. It’s an ideology I’ve had a love-hate relationship with. I appreciate the value of incremental improvement, but it can also be demoralising when the benefits seem distant and intangible in the short term.
Recently, while on a walk and listening to a podcast (Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal), a specific phrase caught my attention and made me pause for reflection. The guest on the podcast recalled observing employees at a large scale company cleaning a sink and wiping down countertops each time after washing their hands. When asked about this, they responded with a powerful statement: “how you do anything is how you do everything”.
Consistent Intentionality
Put simply, the idea that resonated with me is that you should invest the same level of care and application into small tasks as you would into significant ones. Compromising on the quality of any piece of work, no matter how minor, sets a precedent for yourself – do you really want to normalise mediocrity?
Of course, it’s unrealistic to expect identical levels of passion and precision across all tasks. Not every activity will ignite the same level of interest and enthusiasm. However, I do believe that there is a lot of value in attempting to approach all tasks with consistent diligence and intentionality.
Everyday Examples of Intentionality
What intrigued me most about this concept was its presentation through an extremely normal, relatable example. It wasn’t a complex productivity hack or a technical strategy – just a simple act of cleaning a sink thoroughly. It made me think about other parts of life where this applies – and to some extent I’ve been quite intentional in following this ideology.
Much like the wiping down of a sink, I immediately thought of something which hit true to home – washing dishes. I’ve been deliberately trying to wash dishes as I go, which prevents those long, overwhelming cleaning sessions. It’s a small habit, but it significantly reduces stress and maintains a sense of order. I like to think this small, regular and intentional act subconsciously prompts me to put off the small, annoying tasks of daily life. But by applying that intentionality in the small tasks, it can easily be applied to the larger ones. “How you do anything is how you do everything” – sometimes, you really can start with the basics.
Unexpected Patterns of Consistency
In a similar manner, I’ve noticed myself applying patterns I’ve developed at work in my personal life. I’m a stickler for comprehensive project documentation at work – in my opinion, breaking down large, potentially overwhelming outcomes into actionable steps is the most concrete way to success. I found myself needing to organise a relatively large holiday, coordinating with several people for availability, preference, accessibility etc. and much to my surprise I was effectively following the structure of how I approach a project at work, with a document getting everything written down and articulated.
This systematic approach made the entire process more manageable and less daunting. It almost felt like a reverse manifestation of the original saying: “how you do everything is how you do anything.”
The Long Game of Consistency
Beyond this specific idea of applying the same level of effort and intentionality to the seemingly smaller or less critical tasks in life, I believe this process of reflection brought me back to the idea of small actions having big growth. Consistency is key, especially when feeling discouraged by the lack of immediate visible results.
Funnily enough, I saw a quote of the day a few days ago echoing the same point:
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop”
– Confucius
The goal isn’t perfection but persistent, intentional progress. Compound interest will definitely make the small efforts of today result in substantial rewards over time. In a way, this weekly post is my own attempt to have that consistent progress.
Reflections: The Ripple Effect of Small Choices
And in this sense, the key takeaway for me is that intentionality is essential. The moment you lose the drive to do small things well, you’ll find it difficult to maintain a high standard for larger challenges.
It’s almost like a muscle of discipline – one that weakens if you don’t consistently exercise it. When you start letting those small tasks slide, you’re not just compromising on that specific moment. You’re actually training yourself to accept a lower standard of performance.
It isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about the small, unglamorous moments when no one’s watching. Each small act is a step towards the type of person you’re becoming. The seemingly insignificant moments can steer you in the right direction.
When larger challenges come, you won’t have to manufacture discipline out of thin air. You’ll have been practicing it all along, in the quiet, unnoticed corners of your daily life. Your standard won’t be something you put on like a costume. It’ll be who you naturally are.
