Why Most People Drop the Milk, and How You Won’t
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🥛 The Milk, The Farm, and The Moment You're In
I keep coming back to that story of the spilled milk I heard a while ago.
And every time I think of it, it hits differently, especially when I reflect on how I started my business 14 years ago.
What’s in Store:
● A timeless parable about spilled milk and overthinking your dreams
● 5 mindset shifts to stay grounded and consistent, even when you’re uncertain
● Gentle momentum-builders for when you don’t feel ready
● A powerful reflection prompt to reconnect with the present
● Book + podcast recs to support steady, sustainable growth
The Dream That Spilled
A young porter at a train station makes 50p a trip.
One day, a well-dressed man offers him £10 to carry a can of milk to his house, just a mile away.
That’s a fortune to the porter.
He accepts. He’s confident. He balances the can of milk on his head and begins walking.
But then, he starts dreaming.
“With that £10, I’ll buy two chickens.
They’ll lay eggs. I’ll sell them, buy more chickens.
Soon I’ll have a farm.
I’ll hire ten people to help run the place.
I’ll expand. I’ll sell the chickens, sell the eggs.
I’ll open an abattoir.
I’ll supply meat to all the butchers in the area.
Then I’ll buy land.
After that, I’ll get sheep.
Cows.
Crops.
Move to the city.
Buy buildings.
Become the biggest businessman around.
Even the mayor will want me to marry his daughter.
The same one who once turned me down.
And when he asks,
I’ll say... No.”
He smiles, proud of his future self.
Then, he shakes his head in triumph.
And the milk spills.
All of it. Gone.
The man turns back and yells, “Didn’t I pay you £10 not to drop it?!”
The young porter responds:
“Sir, please.
You just lost a can of milk.
But I?
I lost my chickens.
My eggs.
My sheep.
My cows.
My farms.
My buildings.
600 people just lost their jobs.
And at the same time, I lost my marriage.
And my whole life.
So please, just be quiet.”
It’s funny, but here’s the truth:
Most people drop the milk because they’re too busy dreaming about the farm.
They leave the present moment to plan the perfect future, and lose what they were actually holding.
The Lesson That Always Comes Back
This story captures something I’ve seen in so many ambitious people.
We take one small step… and in our minds, we’re already ten years ahead.
It's beautiful, but it’s also why progress gets lost.
Here’s what this story reminds me of every single time:
5 Takeaways I Keep Close
You don’t need to feel ready.
Most great things begin before you're sure of what you're doing.
That's not a flaw. It's proof you’re growing.You don’t need the full plan.
Stop waiting to see the whole staircase.
Just take the first step with what’s in your hands right now.Dreaming is beautiful, but presence builds progress.
Your imagination is a gift.
But without presence, it becomes a distraction instead of a driver.You don’t need to rush.
Progress isn't about how fast you move.
It's about how steadily you show up.Consistency > Certainty.
You don’t need perfect plans or confident moves.
Just the courage to walk the mile. One step at a time.
Want Momentum?
Start Here.
These aren’t huge actions.
But they are honest steps forward.
Try one this week:
⇢ Read the book you've been avoiding
⇢ Set up a simple landing page — just the basics
⇢ Message someone who inspires you
⇢ Start journaling your thoughts, even privately
⇢ Make a list of 3 mentors you’d love to learn from
⇢ Write 100 words — and share them
⇢ Create version 1 (not version 10)
It’s so easy to get stuck thinking about what we don’t know yet.
What might not work.
What step 10 or 20 might look like.
But dreaming about the farm doesn’t build the farm.
You don’t need to build the farm today.
One mile. One can of milk. That’s all you need right now.
Reflection Prompt
What's the "milk" in your hands right now?
What’s one small responsibility, project, or opportunity that feels small…
but might lead to something big, if you just carry it well?
No need to perfect it.
No need to predict the future.
Just walk the mile.
Steady. Present. Intentional.
Linked And Lift Picks
Book: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, on pushing through resistance to create what matters.
Podcast: The Long Game with Dorie Clark, especially episodes on long-term thinking for big goals.
Quote of the Week:
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
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Until next time,
Veronique Barrot
Founder, Linked And Lift
Coaching leaders to grow inside out.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights 6 times a week.
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