Baby Steps Work

Post date: July 27, 2026 9:30 AM

Baby Steps Really Do Work

I recently re-listened to Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover on Audible. One thing I had completely forgotten was where his famous "Baby Steps" came from.

They're actually a nod to the movie What About Bob?

If you've seen the movie, you'll remember the line: "Baby steps." It's funny because the character uses it for everything. The whole concept is played for laughs.

But here's the thing...

It works.

Years ago, I followed Dave's Baby Steps to get out of debt, build an emergency fund, and eventually reach financial peace. Looking back, none of it happened overnight. There wasn't one big decision that changed everything. It was hundreds of small decisions that didn't seem very exciting at the time.

One extra payment.
One month of sticking to a budget.
One financial goal after another.

The same principle has shown up in almost every area of my life.

As a cross-country coach, I see athletes who can barely finish a mile in June. By October, they're racing challenging 5Ks with confidence. There isn't a magic workout that transforms them. It's one practice, one run, one hill, one workout at a time.

In sales, I've learned the same lesson. One phone call probably won't change your career. One follow-up email probably won't land your biggest account. But make those calls and send those emails consistently for months, and suddenly people think you're "lucky."

Even in fitness, relationships, or learning a new skill, the biggest accomplishments are usually built on the smallest habits.

The funny part is that "baby steps" sounds almost too simple. We tend to look for shortcuts, hacks, or breakthrough moments.

Most of the time, there aren't any.

There are just baby steps.

So if you're working toward a goal and it feels like you're not making progress, keep going. Today's small step may not look like much, but enough small steps eventually take you somewhere you never imagined.

After all, sometimes the best advice comes from a comedy movie.

Coach Jeff Wagner has been a licensed mortgage loan originator, a personal banker, and a certified tax preparer. Call or text Jeff at 805-874-2829.

His opinions are not to be taken as health, financial, or investment advice but as motivation to start or continue your path toward success.