Not every idea arrives fully formed.
Some come as a feeling.
A question.
A quiet sense that something might be worth trying — without any certainty about where it will lead.
This small project exists to make room for those beginnings.
Where this shows up
This work often appears in conversation.
Someone shares an idea hesitantly, already explaining why it might not work.
Another wonders if something they’ve noticed is worth paying attention to.
Often, what’s being tested isn’t the idea itself — but whether permission exists to begin.
Rather than asking “Will this succeed?” the more helpful question becomes:
What would it look like to try this gently?
What “trying” means here
Trying something small doesn’t mean rushing.
It means:
- Starting with what’s available
- Keeping the structure light
- Letting the work respond to people rather than plans
- Being willing to stop if stopping is the most caring choice
The aim isn’t to prove value.
It’s to notice what happens.
Why this stays deliberately small
There is often pressure to turn ideas into programs quickly.
To justify effort.
To measure impact.
To decide early whether something is “worth it.”
Keeping this work small resists that pressure.
At this scale, ideas are allowed to breathe.
People are not reduced to outcomes.
Learning happens without failure being punished.
What emerges
Sometimes nothing continues — and that’s information.
Other times, something unexpected takes shape:
- A new rhythm of gathering
- A shared responsibility
- A small enterprise or initiative that feels right-sized
When something does grow, it grows because people are carrying it — not because it was pushed.
Where this sits now
This project is ongoing, but never fixed.
It appears wherever someone is standing at the edge of beginning and needs space to take one step — not ten.
It remains available rather than active, ready rather than urgent.
Closing reflection
Trying something small is an act of care.
It protects people from unnecessary risk, honours uncertainty, and makes room for learning without pressure.
Not all beginnings need momentum.
Some just need permission.
- Small Project: Tip Shop Trolleys
- Small Project: $5 Bag Clothes
- Small Project: Starting a Rock Band (and Ending It Well)
- Small Project: Shoes That Fit
- Small Project: Free Bread, Shared
Discover more from Christiaan McCann | Risks and Solutions for the Vulnerable | Socialwork Projects in Hobart
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