Let’s talk about Tiny Experiments 🧪
In business (and self-development) there’s a lot of chat about goals.
And in a structured setting, like a company or a gym workout, goals are great. There’s a clear context, we know what we’re there to do, and we know what better looks like. More sales, more reps, more money.
But outside that structure, it can be almost impossible to set a clear goal.
We have to answer questions like…
What do I really want?
What does ‘good’ look like?
Which route do I take?
Having a goal like ‘Get a job’ is like opening a Maps app and typing in ‘food’. You need filters, my friend.
So, if this is you: welcome. We’ve all chased a fuzzy idea of success without a clear definition.
You’re not ready for a goal yet. What you need is a series of Tiny Experiments.
Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Turning doubts into experiments
I found Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s book on this when I was deep in a valley of transition. Honestly, I had no idea which way was up.
The thought of making goals was way too daunting - but I could follow the simple steps she lays out in the book:
1. What have I noticed about my life/ situation that I want to change?
Eg. I’ve applied for 200 jobs and got zero feedback.
2. What question, if answered, would help me move forwards?
Eg. How can I get feedback from people I want to work with?
3. What hypothesis do I have that might answer this question?
Eg. People will be more willing to give me feedback if they meet & like me.
4. What small repeatable action could I take to test this out?
Eg. Every day for one week, I’ll find one local person who works in the industry and offer to buy them coffee.
5. When will I complete this pact by?
Eg. The end of the month.
6. What signals did I get by doing this pact?
Eg. I felt really awkward asking people at the beginning, but after the first person said yes it got easier. Their industry advice was really interesting, and they introduced me to another business owner.
The value of these Tiny Experiments is two-fold.
First, turning doubts into experiments makes them less scary. Suddenly there are clear steps to move forwards.
Second, consistently showing up for yourself and the pact you’ve made - regardless of the results - build self-confidence you can’t fake. And that’s compelling.
What Tiny Experiments could you run, to move from doubt to confidence?
Have a go and let me know how you get on!
As ever, reach out to me on LinkedIn to share your stories, recommendations and questions.
