# An op-ed by Prof. Hal Hershfield on how completing small tasks helps us accomplish large goals

1 Faculty News October 10, 2012 ![Psychology Today logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_031090.jpg?itok=H_RURAAM)>

Excerpt from [Psychology Today](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-edge-choice/201210/playing-small-ball) -- "One possibility is that by completing several small tasks, I give myself a sense of competence that I can do what I set out to do, or what psychologist Albert Bandura has termed “self-efficacy.” Another possibility, however, is that trying to pay attention to a number of smaller sub-tasks makes it harder for me to maintain my focus on the big picture (think: 'Well, I just finished these three little things, so I may as well as check out what’s new and exciting on Facebook for three hours before writing this blog post')."

[Read more](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-edge-choice/201210/playing-small-ball)