Doing any type of ideas-based work is similar to the physical work done by sculptors or stone cutters.

The work requires consistent pressure, just the right amount of force, in order to chip away everything non-essential. Too much force and things can break, too little force and you’ll be working for a tremendous amount of time.

When it comes to creative work: less is more, but consistency is key.

I’ve said it before: the best ideas don’t just happen, they take small, consistent efforts to occur.

Gary Vaynerchuck, founder of Vaynermedia, recommends working on small tasks because it’s simple math: _“One is greater than zero,” _he explains.

Derek Sivers, creative entrepreneur shares that working with the smallest version of your grand vision enables you to start something useful with very little resources, without getting concerned over the grand scheme.

Celebrated author Seth Godin recommends directing your focus on the smallest things you can do right now to make an impact because small is achievable.

So if you want to write a book, try focusing on writing just a page or two—or less—every day. If you’re trying to start a business, focus on one thing you can do every single day to get that off the ground. Focus on what you can achieve today rather than what you need to accomplish in the long run.

Instead of increasing your output when you want to be more productive with your ideas: focus on consistency. Think of the smallest thing that you can do. Identify the smallest chunk of output that you need to produce.

Written by Kevin Olega.