Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

We’re still talking about post-surgery/injury recovery and success today. But let’s pause for a moment—what does success actually mean to you?

For most people, success means achieving their goal, reaching the finish line, or finally getting what they’ve been working toward. But I like to think of success a little differently: You either succeed, or you learn (sometimes both!). And the truth is, the road to success is often paved with a whole lot of learning.

There’s No Such Thing as Overnight Success

When we see someone succeed, we often don’t see the effort that went into it. The reality? Success is built step by step, one percent at a time. Progress isn’t flashy—it’s about showing up every day, even when you don’t want to. Especially when you don’t want to.

In my own recovery from foot surgery, I’ve had to remind myself of this every single day. It’s not about doing my physical therapy exercises when it’s convenient or when I feel motivated. It’s about doing them three times a day, every single day. Not twice. Not once. Not when I remember. But consistently.

Progress Happens Even When You Can’t See It

There have been moments in my recovery when I’ve felt like I wasn’t making any progress. But the thing about consistency is that results don’t always show up immediately. Maybe you can’t see a difference today. Maybe even tomorrow. But a week from now? A month from now? The results will be undeniable.

That’s the power of developing habits—whether in recovery, business, or any area of life. If you skip the work today, the future results simply won’t be there.

How to Build Habits That Stick: The Power of Habit Stacking

One of my favorite tools for building consistency is habit stacking. This is something I use for myself, and it’s a game-changer for my clients. Here’s how it works:

💡 Take a habit you already do every day and “stack” a new habit onto it.

For example, part of my recovery involves working on my ability to shift weight onto the front of my foot. Instead of trying to carve out extra time in my already busy day, I do toe raises while I brush my teeth. It doesn’t interfere with my routine, doesn’t take up additional time, and—boom!—I’ve already knocked out two of my three daily sessions. The third? I fit it in during my lunch break when I take a moment to stretch, walk, and ice my foot.

By integrating my recovery exercises into my existing habits, I’m able to stay consistent without feeling like I’m adding more to my plate. And that’s the beauty of habit stacking—it helps you build new habits seamlessly, without completely overhauling your schedule.

Success is About the Small Steps

Is habit stacking a magic solution that instantly changes everything? No. It takes time, effort, and practice to implement successfully. But like any skill, the more you work at it, the more natural it becomes.

Success—whether in recovery, business, or personal growth—isn’t about big leaps. It’s about small, intentional improvements each day. It’s about patience, consistency, and the understanding that even the smallest step forward is still progress.

So if you’re working toward a goal—whether for yourself or alongside your clients—remember this: Focus on 1% improvement every day. Over time, those small steps add up to incredible results.

And one day, you’ll look back and be amazed at how far you’ve come.