Have you ever set out toward a goal with the best of intentions, only to realize midway that it was too big to handle all at once? Maybe you promised yourself you’d work out every day, finish an ambitious project, or totally revamp your routine, but somewhere along the way, the size of the goal felt overwhelming.
I recently came across a quip about New Year’s resolutions that made me laugh:
Dear New Year’s resolution,
It was fun while it lasted.
Sincerely,
January 2nd
It is funny because it is painfully relatable. We’ve all set grand goals only to find ourselves further behind than when we started. The problem isn’t the goal – it is trying to leap the entire staircase in one bound.
This week’s Parsha, Shemini, offers a different model. The Torah introduces the service in the Mishkan (a monumental event in Jewish history) with two simple words:
“זֶה הַדָּבָר” – “This is the thing” (Vayikra 9:6).
One thing. One focus.
These two simple words carry a powerful message. The dedication of the Mishkan is introduced not with grandeur, but with focus.
“This is the thing.” One thing. One step.
Think about Steve Jobs. When he returned to Apple in the late 1990’s, the company was on the brink of collapse, with too many scattered products and no clear direction. Jobs simplified. He scrapped almost everything and focused on one product at a time. The first big success? The iMac. After perfecting that, he moved to the iPod, not trying to invent the iPhone right away, but mastering one thing that could be done exceptionally well.
The Ba’al Shem Tov taught something similar in the spiritual realm with his concept of Machshava Achat – one thought. Instead of being weighed down by a hundred ambitions, focus on one meaningful thought. One moment where we connect to Hashem. One step toward becoming who we want to be.
The lesson is clear: lasting change comes not from big, sweeping gestures, but from small, focused steps.
Maybe that means spending ten minutes with your child as soon as you get home, without your phone. Maybe it’s taking one deep breath before responding in frustration. These are our Zeh Hadavar moments – the small things that, done consistently, build something extraordinary.
So, the next time you set out to grow; whether in business, spirituality, or personal growth, the formula is the same:
Don’t focus on losing ten pounds. Focus on taking one walk. Don’t aim to be the perfect parent. Aim to be present for ten minutes.
Focus on “Zeh Hadavar” – one thing. That’s how we build something lasting.
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