“It always seems impossible until it is done.”

Nelson Mandela

People often give you the advice to take “baby steps” to accomplish a goal. Before having a baby of my own, I always thought that meant breaking down a large goal or complex situation into smaller, more manageable.

But now that I have a 16 month old who just learned how to walk, this metaphor has a much more important message for me. Watching my son learn to walk, he would stumble, fall down and get incredibly frustrated. And yet, I’ve never seen someone more persistent in achieving what they want, despite the setbacks along the way.

When you start working toward a new goal or behavioral shift with your coach, think about taking baby steps. Break it down into tiny pieces, and also mentally prepare yourself for the fact that the process will not be linear. You’ll find your stride and start moving forward, and then you’ll lose your footing, wobble and maybe even fall flat on your bum.

Think of a baby learning to walk and accept the trials and tribulations along the way because they are a part of the learning process. Stay diligently focused on your goal and you’ll come out stronger in the end. If my son called it quits when he faced challenges, he’d be sitting on the floor the rest of his life. Instead, I’m trying to keep up as he runs all over the place and sees the world in an entirely new way. I want that for you, too.