I’ve been thinking a lot about Big Rocks vs Loops

I've been pondering on - the difference - especially after doing the six‑week challenge. One of the biggest things I learnt was how easy it is to accidentally set yourself up for feeling like you’re “not achieving enough” simply because the thing you’re working on is massive — not because you’re slacking.

A Big Rock isn’t meant to be a giant mini‑project that takes months and requires a whole cast of characters to line up. That’s where I tripped myself up at the start — I picked something huge, with moving parts everywhere, and half of it wasn’t even in my control. No wonder it felt like wading through concrete.

What I learnt is this:A Big Rock should be something you can realistically shift in six weeks. Not finish your whole BHAG — your Big Hairy Audacious Goal — but take the first meaningful chunk out of it.

Something that actually propels you into the next phase.

A Loop is the small, repeatable action that keeps you moving day to day.A Big Rock is the six‑week focus that creates momentum.Your BHAG is the long‑game direction you’re heading.

here we get tangled is when we accidentally choose a BHAG‑sized Rock and then wonder why we feel like we’re not achieving enough.

So now I’m watching the size of the thing I’m calling a Big Rock.If it’s too big to shift in six weeks, it’s not a Rock — it’s the mountain.The Rock is just the chunk I’m choosing to move first.

It’s amazing how much lighter everything feels when the sizing is honest. One chunk at a time, and suddenly the BHAG doesn’t look so wild.

No more beating ourselves up for not finishing a multi‑month project in six weeks. Just honest sizing, steady steps, and giving ourselves credit for the bits no one else sees.

The trick is knowing which one you’re dealing with.If it’s a Big Rock, break off a tiny piece and call that the win.If it’s a Loop, do it, tick it, move on.

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