Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions.

Ambition that is too large for its situation quietly spoils the work in front of you. The modest task stops being interesting because it is not the thing you meant to be doing, so it gets done carelessly, and the careless version is what everyone actually sees. Meanwhile the grand plan requires nothing today, which is part of its appeal. A good deal of failure is attention withdrawn from what was achievable and lent to what was not.

Take the small thing you are currently doing at half effort and do it properly this week. Not as a stepping stone, just done well because it is in front of you.