Bird by Bird: The Simple Way to Build Momentum and Confidence in Your Business

You’ve Been Procrastinating Again, Haven’t You? 

I’m currently re-reading one of my favorite books on writing (and life), Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. If you haven’t read it yet, put it on your list. It’s one of those books that makes you feel seen, especially if you have a tendency to overthink, procrastinate, or spiral into existential dread when faced with a big project.

AKA, a day in the life of an entrepreneur.

The title comes from a story Lamott tells about her brother, who had a school project about birds. He had weeks to complete it. Naturally, he ignored it until the night before it was due. (Relatable? That’s how I handled every project in school)

Overwhelmed and on the verge of tears, he sat at the table surrounded by books and papers, utterly paralyzed by the sheer scope of the project. That’s when his father, a writer himself, offered this simple advice:

"Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird."

And just like that, the mountain turned into a series of manageable steps.

This lesson doesn’t just apply to writing. It applies to building a business, growing your network, and even tackling the Daily Do’s.

Most notaries (and business owners in general) get stuck because they try to take on too much at once. They want all the clients, all the money, all the results and success…

But when they realize how much work it takes, they freeze.

Everybody wants to be a six figure notary until they realize the work six figure notaries must do.

Instead of making one call, sending one email, or attending one networking event, they shut down, convince themselves they need to “get organized first,” and end up rewatching a show they’ve already seen three times.

I get it. I’ve been there.

But just like that school project about birds, the solution isn’t waiting until you feel less overwhelmed, the solution is taking things step by step, now.

The Daily Do’s are designed to take the overwhelm out of business growth. You don’t need to transform your business overnight. You just need to take one small action each day that moves the needle.

• Meet and connect with 3-5 new people daily, just one conversation at a time. Not 100 new clients in a week. Just 3-5 connections today. And if that's overwhelming, just do ONE.

• Ping warm contacts. These are people you already know. You don’t have to write the perfect email. Just send a quick check-in. One message at a time.

• Research one Prospect from Your Fab 100 List, not your entire prospect list. Just one. Bird by bird.

• Follow up on previous prospecting messages. Not all of them at once. Just one. Maybe two.

• Ask for referrals. You don’t have to land a major partnership today. Just plant a seed. 

• Attend a networking event. You don’t have to be the most charming person in the room (Zoom rooms count too). Just show up, say hello.

• Create one piece of content, or just simply engage with someone else’s in a thoughtful way. You don’t need to build a huge following today. Just share one insight.

See the pattern?

Business growth isn’t about big, dramatic leaps. It’s about consistent, small actions that stack up over time. 

You don’t build an empire in a day. You build it deal by deal, connection by connection, and lesson by lesson.

So, the next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed, just remember:

Bird by bird. Call by call. Email by email. Stamp by stamp.

That’s how businesses are built. That’s how confidence is built.

Lean on your Daily Do’s and the High Performance Notary (HPN) community on Skool to make progress. 

Here are your next steps: 

Join HPN here

Review the Daily Do’s. You have a few options for this:

Watch the replay of SMASH Your Goals here (Light overview)

Revisit the Morning Mastery Course Here

Download & Print the Daily Do’s Worksheets (for each day of the week)

If it’s helpful, revisit the entire 9-Step High Performance Notary Action Plan here. 

We meet EVERY Sunday for a co-working session where you can plan your week with support. Join us for the Sunday Success Ritual. Details are on the calendar here. 

We meet nearly every Wednesday for open Office Hours and a Midweek Check-in. Get the inspiration and guidance you need. Details on the calendar here. 

And, everyday, I make a post with a lesson that invites you to declare your Big 3 priorities for the day, coupled with a chance to share your progress at the end of the day. 

Use the HPN Daily Planning Sheets here or use whatever system you have to help. 

Get dialed in. Stay connected. Engage. 

Go. Get. It. 

This is the system you’ve been looking for.