Have you ever taken on a huge project or set a significant goal, only to become discouraged by how slowly progress seems to advance?

Recently, I was reminded of how change that often goes unrecognized by those in the trenches while I was working with a client. Earlier in his career, he had served as the CFO of a large newspaper. He joined the publication at the worst of times. Quality was abysmal. Financials were tragic. Culture was at an all-time low.

New ownership took over, and a restructured leadership team went on a retreat to strategize a resurrection of the organization. The new editor ended the session with a charge to his team…..go back to your office and put a copy of today’s newspaper in your bottom drawer. Pull it out in one year. It will be unrecognizable to you.

What was his point? That the job ahead of them was big, and they would probably not notice the transformational change each day as it occurred.

But consistent effort ultimately contributed to the paper looking so drastically different a year from the day of the retreat’s close.

On one of my favorite television shows, “The Biggest Loser,” contestants often get discouraged. Because their goal is so great, it can be easy to lose perspective on their progress. As these contestants live in their own skin, they don’t notice the changes that a friend who hasn’t seen them for some time may point out in an instant. And these changes are certainly not of the magnitude of those showcased on finale night – when we observe the before and after photos, side by side.

True transformation is gradual.

It’s subtle.

The effort required for such massive, transformative growth can seem overwhelming. Because it’s such a monumental task, it’s easy to be like the newspaper employees or like the contestants struggling to lose weight and think, “I’m not making a difference here. I don’t see results. I quit.”

Dig your heels in. Change is happening. And though you don’t think the needle is moving or the mountain is getting any closer to molehill, keep your eye on the big picture. Make like the newspaper. Look back a year later and you’ll be amazed by how far you’ve come.