Three Small Steps to Grow Into Big Things

Growth doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in tiny, consistent actions that compound over time. In my life—whether I was chasing a computer at age 12, getting into Waterloo, becoming a professional-level swing dancer, or stepping into a Director role in tech—I followed a familiar rhythm. These three steps helped me build momentum even when I had no clue what I was doing. And over time, these small steps led to significant achievements that shaped my life.

1. Decide, Then Find a Way

When I was 12, I wanted a computer. I had no money, shared access to one, and no idea how to make it happen. But I decided I would find a way. That decision changed everything. I got a paper route that paid $2.10/day, saved every birthday and Christmas dollar, and two years later I had my first machine. That pattern—deciding first, then figuring it out—set the tone for everything that came after. When you make a decision, even without knowing how, you ignite a sense of purpose. You shift from "Can I?" to "How can I?" and that change in mindset unlocks possibilities you might not even see yet.

2. Embrace Being a Beginner

I wasn’t born knowing how to study or code or dance. I’ve had to start from scratch over and over again. When I chose the University of Waterloo, I didn’t know how I’d hit the grades or afford it—but I showed up every day, asked questions, worked shifts at McDonald's and Zellers, and iterated. It was the same story when I transitioned from Lindy Hop to West Coast Swing: I entered a community full of dancers who were far ahead of me. I trained relentlessly, practiced when others relaxed, sought feedback even when it hurt. Embracing being a beginner means giving yourself permission to look foolish, to fail, and to grow. It's humbling—and powerful.

3. Compound Small Wins

Growth is the result of thousands of small choices: choosing to practice, read, ask, try, fail, adjust, and try again. At Shopify, I didn’t leap from senior developer to Director overnight. I made small, deliberate efforts daily: learning how to lead, how to manage, how to influence, how to think more strategically. I sought mentors, read obsessively, took notes after every one-on-one and team meeting. Small wins, repeated over time, became big transformations. The most remarkable achievements are often invisible until they suddenly aren't. It's those unseen, compounding efforts that eventually build a visible, undeniable result.

Growth isn’t flashy—it’s disciplined. Decide on something that matters. Start where you are. Take small steps daily. Repeat. Over time, you'll look back and realize just how far those tiny steps carried you.