Achieving Your Goals Bit by Bit | Pete Smack | TEDxUNC

Comedian Pete Smack, based in Raleigh, N.C., argues that large goals are reached gradually, using the way a comedian builds a one-hour special as an example. He compares this approach to goals such as designing a product, running a marathon, running for office or giving a TED Talk. The talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event. Smack is a clean comedian who has performed at the World Series of Comedy, the North Carolina Comedy Festival and the Blue Ridge Comedy Festival. In September 2025 he staged and filmed his first one-man standup special, "Last Man Standing." Standup is his sixth career, following several earlier roles in finance, sports writing, TV and film writing, and tech.

• Reaching a big goal happens bit by bit, not all at once
• A comedian's one-hour special as a model for planning
• Examples include product design, marathons, running for office and TED Talks
• Pete Smack's path from earlier careers to standup comedy

We can all learn from the way a comedian builds a one-hour special, because no matter what your big goal is: design a new product, run a marathon, run for office, give a TED Talk, the best way to get to the finish line is a little bit at a time, bit by bit. Pete Smack is a (clean) comedian based in Raleigh, N.C. He has performed at the World Series of Comedy, the North Carolina Comedy Festival and the Blue Ridge Comedy Festival. In September 2025, he staged and filmed his first one-man standup show/comedy special “Last Man Standing.” Standup comedy is his sixth career. The first five were: investment banker for Goldman Sachs; sportswriter for Sports Illustrated; comedy writer for TV/film; Co-Founder of a tech startup; and tech startup publication Founding Editor. You know, that old drill. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx