Small Actins Can Have Big Effects

Small Actins Can Have Big Effects
Solution Building
Small Actins Can Have Big Effects

Dec 16 2025 | 00:05:14

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Episode 168 December 16, 2025 00:05:14

Hosted By

Mark Eastman

Show Notes

Sometimes the biggest disruptions don’t come from major failures, but from small, everyday actions. One minor delay sets off a chain reaction of schedule changes, conversations, and adjustments for multiple people. And it's all because of something that seemed insignificant at the time.

It’s a reminder that our actions, communication, and attention to detail matter more than we often realize. When we understand how small decisions impact others, we can lead better, plan better, and respond with more intention.

This is about awareness, responsibility, and why the little things deserve more respect than we usually give them.

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Episode Transcript

Small Actions Can Have Big Effects Being Aware of This Is Important I got a text this morning regarding a little thing that caused some big changes. Our township’s old road grader needed repairs that were going to cost more than the grader was worth. We’ve been working to get it replaced for weeks. We found a good used grader and have funding in place. As the treasurer of our township board, I needed to be there when it was delivered. With multiple people involved in the delivery, we’d been working to find a time that worked for everyone. It was scheduled to be delivered this morning at 8:00. At 7:28 this morning, I got a text from the truck driver that was delivering the grader. It read, “I’m going to be a little behind on the drop off. I had a mishap and my wife took my keys to work. It’s going to put me behind 30-40 minutes. Should be there around 9:00.” My first thought was, why did his wife take his keys to work? Then I began thinking through all the things this was going to affect … starting with my already packed schedule. I was going to need to reschedule meetings and rearrange my plans for the morning. Some things could be moved and some things couldn’t. (A good example of flexible rigidity.) This was going to affect other people who I had scheduled meetings with, as well as the people who planned to be there for the delivery. Everyone needed to be notified of the change. Now, rather than doing the work I had planned, I needed to start making calls and sending texts and emails. When it was all said and done, people were notified, schedules were adjusted, and life goes on. When the truck driver showed up with the grader, I had to ask why his wife had taken his key with her to work. It was a pretty simple thing. Last night they had been shopping, he gave his keys to her, she put them in her purse, forgot to give them back, and when she went to work this morning … so did his keys. I share this to point out how a simple act of him giving his keys to his wife affected a lot of people and schedules. This is a good example of the butterfly effect. The butterfly effect refers to the idea that a minor event, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, can set off a chain of events leading to significant consequences, such as a tornado occurring weeks later in a different part of the world. Another thing that struck me in this situation was the honest and clear communication that transpired. The truck driver could have just let us show up at 8:00 and wait an hour for him. Or he could have made up a story about why he was going to be late. But he did neither. He was honest and communicated. My point in telling you this is to show how little things can have a big effect and we need to Be aware of this. Understand how it can affect things. Take Intentional action to prevent them. And Learn to take responsibility for our actions and communications. It’s the attention to the little things that sets exceptional businesses apart from the ordinary. These things are part of how you BUILD a successful business. If you would like to know more about BUILDing a successful business, schedule a free 30-minute call.

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