Stop Overthinking and Start Slicing: What Elephants, Pumpkins, and Salami Teach Us About Effective Change

by | Oct 25, 2024 | Business Insights | 0 comments

Have you ever tried to eat a whole salami at once? Probably not. So, how do you go about it? You slice it into small, manageable pieces. Now, imagine trying to tackle a massive problem all at once—whether it’s in leading change, policymaking, or community development. Weeks or even months might pass as you think, analyse, and strive for the perfect solution. But when you finally unveil your grand plan, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. Maybe it even misses entirely. This is all about breaking down big challenges.

Don’t Let Perfection Stop You

Because we often forget to test our solutions in small, flexible steps. Solving big problems is like steering a ship—you need to adjust your course as you go. Where would you arrive without frequently checking your compass? The world keeps moving, conditions change, and both the problem and the solution evolve over time.

“There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.”

This morning, I was preparing for a workshop with a few colleagues. We’re working on transforming agricultural supply chains in South Africa, a goal as important as it is challenging.

As we discussed our approach, one of my South African colleagues said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.” I chuckled and replied that while I’m not keen on the idea of elephant meat, I do love the salami metaphor. It reminded me of an article I wrote some years ago—though, to my surprise, it was 11 years ago!

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What Do an Elephant, a Salami, and a Giant Pumpkin Have in Common?

Big challenges often feel overwhelming, but they become manageable when broken down into smaller steps. Whether it’s eating an elephant, slicing a salami, or tackling a giant pumpkin, the key is taking it piece by piece. This approach not only simplifies difficult tasks but also keeps you moving forward effectively.

We Waste Too Much Time Waiting for Perfection

Too often, we aim for perfection from the start. We want the perfect plan, flawless execution, the ideal outcome. But in waiting for perfection, we delay action. We overthink, overanalyse, and sometimes end up doing nothing at all.

Think big, but start small. Even when the destination is clear, getting there is often about progress, not perfection. The best way to make real headway is to slice the salami into smaller, doable pieces.

I recently wrote on my blog, “Some ideas deserve action, while some actions deserve a better idea—but it is always better to do something than nothing at all.”

Throughout my career, I’ve seen projects fail because teams were fixated on perfecting the idea. By the time they moved to action, the landscape had shifted, or the “perfect” solution wasn’t so perfect anymore.

The Salami Slice Approach: Taking Manageable Steps

During our workshop planning, we all agreed that we need to explore our goals step by step. It’s like slicing a salami or cutting up a giant pumpkin—by breaking down the big task into smaller pieces, we make it manageable.

In our agricultural transformation program in South Africa, we’re aiming for systemic change that affects everything from regenerative farming practices to supply chain transparency and community engagement. It’s a massive undertaking, and the path isn’t entirely clear. But rather than trying to solve everything at once, we’re focusing on “salami slices”—small, actionable steps that allow us to learn and adjust as we go.

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Adopt Lean Development for Effective Systemic Change

This approach aligns with the principles of lean development. Instead of spending ages perfecting a grand plan (the “waterfall approach”), we deliver a minimum viable product (MVP), gather feedback, and iterate. It’s about testing ideas in the real world and learning from each small step.

The original concept of lean development came from Toyota’s continuous improvement philosophy, which prioritised small, iterative steps and respect for everyone involved. Whether you’re talking about agriculture, community initiatives, or any form of societal transformation, the principles of lean—value creation, quality, and waste elimination—apply universally. The trick is to dare to experiment, deliver, measure, and learn, always focusing on what adds value for those you serve.

In our case, we’re collaborating with local farmers, communities, retailers, and supply chain partners. We plan to implement small pilot projects to see what works and what doesn’t. For example, we might introduce a new crop rotation method in one community to assess its impact before rolling it out more broadly, and start recording sales transactions in another community.

Systemic Change Demands Experimentation

Just as startups validate their ideas with the market, large-scale systemic change efforts benefit from an iterative approach. Massive transformations require buy-in from everyone involved. Siloed thinking won’t work. By starting with small, manageable pieces we build trust and momentum. Each successful “slice”—whether it’s an idea, a pilot project, or a small change—demonstrates progress, keeps stakeholders engaged, and provides valuable insights that inform our next move.

Slice the Salami and Get Moving

So, if you’re facing a massive challenge—be it in agriculture, technology, policy, or any other field—remember the salami (or the elephant, or the giant pumpkin). Break the problem into manageable pieces. Start with one small step, gather feedback, and adapt as you go.

“Some ideas deserve action, while some actions deserve a better idea—but it is always better to do something than nothing at all.”

No matter the size of the task, progress comes from taking action, not just planning. Each slice moves you closer to your goal, builds on what you’ve learned, and keeps you aligned with the ever-changing world around you.

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What’s Your First Slice?

Think about a project or goal you’ve been putting off because it feels too big or too complex. What’s one small step you can take today to move it forward? It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be a start.

Remember, “Some ideas deserve action, while some actions deserve a better idea—but it is always better to do something than nothing at all.” So grab your metaphorical knife and start slicing that salami. Who knows? You might just find that the journey is as rewarding as the destination.

Grab Your Cutting Knife!

Take a moment to identify your own “salami slices.” What small, actionable steps can you take toward your big goal?

Share your thoughts with a colleague or friend—they might have valuable insights or even join you on your journey.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share them below so we can continue this journey together.

Featured image credits: Photo by Ian Murray on Unsplash

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