When I was writing my children’s book Barry Needs a Hug, I wanted it to be finished right away. In the outline stage, or when I was wrestling with rhymes, I would get frustrated that it was not already perfect. I was trying to force the oak tree out of the ground fully grown.

But what the project really needed was time. Sometimes that meant stepping back and returning with rested eyes. Other times it meant letting a messy draft exist instead of pushing it into polish too soon.

I learned that projects are like acorns. They need care to grow, but too much pressure can do more harm than good. Burnout often comes from expecting results faster than the work is ready to give. The real skill is patience. Show up with steady effort and trust that growth takes its own time.

The Acorn’s Lesson

Every mighty oak begins as an acorn. Small, patient, and packed with potential. It does not grow tall overnight. First it strengthens its roots. It waits for the right season. It rises slowly, step by step, until one day it stands tall.

Your creative projects work the same way. They need patience more than pressure and steady effort more than speed.

Big dreams thrive on slow beginnings. That is where the spark becomes a flame.

Why It Matters

I remember staring at early drafts, frustrated they weren’t already perfect. Looking back, I see those rough, messy moments were the roots forming. Without them, the book wouldn’t exist at all.

Your projects will be the same. The parts that feel slow or clumsy are often the foundation you’ll one day be grateful for.

Have you ever tried to start too big and wished you began smaller?