Your Big Domino

As we begin 2025, and indeed at the beginning of any year, month, week or day, I find it really helpful to have a Big Domino to focus my attention on.  I first came across the Big Domino idea from Tim Ferriss, the author of the 4-Hour Work Week. 

His definition — “the One Thing, that if I could knock THAT down, all the other dominos would either fall down or become irrelevant.”

Each year at about this time, I ask my clients a version of the Big Domino question— 

What is that One Thing, that if you achieve it this year, would transform your leadership or your career? 

It’s not always such an easy question to answer. Many women leaders are so caught up in the day-to-day busy-ness of their roles that they seldom have — or take — the time to step back and answer this question fully. Because it asks that you get honest with yourself and go deep into what you really want and need in your life and your career. If you suspect that the disparity between what you want and what you’ve currently got is too great, then what? Maybe it’s best not to go there… If so, another year may go by, doing what you’ve always done and not making either the progress or the impact you know you’re capable of.

The way I approach this with clients is to take them through the Planning Pentagram^TM— a very useful tool to get clear not just on your One Thing but also on the best route to achieving it. 

It consists of asking a series of questions in a particular order, first of all to identify the Big Domino and why it’s important for you to achieve it. Why now? And if you’re one of many women leaders inspired to make a positive impact or develop your thought leadership, why you?  

That “Why me?” Question is challenging. It’s only natural to doubt yourself when you’re about to step into something much bigger than before. Something much bigger than yourself, that’s both scary and exciting. The bigger the One Thing, the louder those voices in your head are likely to be. This is the first roadblock on your path to achieving your One Thing.  

Often, we get irritated by these voices, constantly nagging at us. Our strategies for dealing with them may vary, from wishing they’d go away, to ignoring them… Often, that just makes their nagging louder and more persistent.

I’ve found the best approach here is to listen to and respect the voices in your head, acknowledging that they are there to protect you. Protect you, yes; stand in your way, no. That’s why befriending your Imposter, Inner Critic, Perfectionist — or any other naysayer — is so important. Have a conversation with them. Come to understand their concerns. Then agree ways to mitigate or minimise the impact their fears may have on you, and you’ll find you won’t be troubled by their constant griping.  

To achieve your Big Domino, your self worth must be greater than your doubt.

Once that Why question is resolved, we can ask the others in the right order to ensure you have a clear path to achieving your One Thing.  If you’d like support in discovering your One Thing, then join us for the next Career Transformation Advantage workshop.