There’s Only One Way to Eat an Elephant

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “There’s only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.” I was just watching The Six Triple Eight on Netflix where I heard it most recently and felt inspired. It’s a strange image at first—who’s eating elephants, anyway? But the message it delivers is one of the most practical truths I’ve ever come across. It’s about tackling life’s biggest challenges, dreams, and goals the only way you can—piece by piece, step by step.

The Elephant in the Room

In my life, I’ve faced a lot of “elephants.” Starting a business, navigating complicated family relationships, juggling my responsibilities as a parent, and still finding time for my fitness goals, emotional growth, and creativity. At times, the sheer size of these goals and challenges feels overwhelming.

It’s easy to look at the entire elephant and think, There’s no way I can do this. That’s the voice of fear, self-doubt, and perfectionism whispering in your ear. It convinces you that if you can’t handle everything at once, you might as well not start.

But here’s the thing: You don’t need to tackle everything at once. You just need to take that first bite.

Breaking Down the Elephant

The magic of “one bite at a time” is that it shifts your focus. Instead of obsessing over how much is left to do, you ask yourself, What can I do right now?

Let’s break it down:

• Starting a Business: You don’t launch a successful company overnight. You create a vision, make a plan, and take small, consistent steps—one phone call, one meeting, one pitch at a time.

• Improving Relationships: You don’t fix a family dynamic in one conversation. You show up, you listen, you set boundaries—one interaction at a time.

• Fitness Goals: You don’t become your fittest self by hitting every goal on Day 1. You eat one healthy meal, finish one workout, and stay consistent.

Every step, no matter how small, is progress.

Why Small Steps Matter

Small steps build momentum. With every bite of that elephant, you prove to yourself that you can do hard things. Over time, those small steps add up to something big—something you might not have thought was possible when you started.

But here’s the key: you have to keep going. You can’t let the size of the elephant paralyze you. The progress may feel slow, and the bites may feel insignificant, but they’re not. Each one moves you closer to the finish line.

The Beauty of Bite-Sized Success

What I love most about this concept is how forgiving it is. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to move at lightning speed. You just have to take the next bite.

When I reflect on my own life, I see how this idea has shaped my journey. From growing my solar business to showing up for my kids to creating meaningful content, everything I’ve achieved has come from breaking big, scary goals into manageable pieces.

So if you’re staring down your own elephant right now, feeling overwhelmed by how much there is to do, remember: You don’t need to finish it today. You don’t even need to know how you’re going to finish it. Just take that first bite. Then take another.

Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize—you’ve eaten the whole elephant.

Final Thoughts

Life is full of elephants, and some of them feel impossible to tackle. But with patience, persistence, and faith in the process, you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

The secret isn’t in trying to swallow the elephant whole. The secret is in showing up, every single day, and taking one bite at a time.

So, what’s your elephant? And what’s your first bite?

Let’s dig in.

Stay Sunny

Sherri Lee Sunshine