4 Reasons to Start Before You're Ready

I talk to a lot of people - a lot of people with great ideas, great vision, and tons of untapped potential.

But they're stuck on 'start.'

Instead of trying, attempting, and building, they wait around for the perfect opportunity, the perfect connection, and the perfect launch.

News flash: perfect doesn't exist.

Besides Perfect

Is good enough.

You don't need to be perfect (you can't be), all you need is good enough.

And unless you start, you'll never be good enough.

If that's not enough of a kick in the ass, below are 4 reasons you should start - TODAY.

4 Reasons to Start Before You're Ready

1. The sooner you start the sooner you will be ready

When you start - when you enter the ring - it stops being an idea, a thought, a dream; it becomes your work, out in the world.

No, you're probably not ready; but the sooner you take yourself and your work seriously enough to ship, the sooner you will actually be ready.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. [Buddha]

It's a paradox, but most important things are.

2. Everybody else is faking it too

At first, you may have to fake it. This is okay: everyone else is doing the same thing, even (especially) the more famous writers, entrepreneurs and artists.

Stop worrying about being a phony and start shipping your projects.

Note: you might still feel like a phony even after shipping your 100th project, but that's not what the rest of the world will see.

3. No failure is forever

If you start and it doesn't pan out, keep going.  If that doesn't pan out, pivot.  If that doesn't pan out, try a different technique, tactic or strategy.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. [Thomas Edison]

There is no such thing as a single opening launch that, if not done PERFECTLY, will destroy your business, career and art.

Unless you've raised millions in venture capital, the initial start is almost insignificant.

The first version is never the FINAL version.  This goes for everything; the first draft of a manuscript, the first iteration of software, or the first marketing campaign of a brick-and-mortar company.

Don't sweat the start.  Just start.

4. You are ready, you just didn't know it

Stepping into the ring (actually shipping your product; moving from hobbyist to professional) is never easy.

We think we need to be completely ready - trained up, competent, and ready to deal with any possible failure point.

But that's just it: you are ready.   Whether you know it or not, you've been ready you're entire life; you just never stepped into the ring.

So step into the ring already.

A Simple Call to Action

Start.

It sounds simple - and it is.

Start right now; release the first version of your blog, publish your first eBook, sell your unfinished (but minimally viable) product.

The worst that can happen is it doesn't work, which means you're closer to a solution that will.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. [Walt Disney]

Start now.
p.s. leave a comment below and tell us what you're starting.

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4 comments on “4 Reasons to Start Before You're Ready”

  1. Hey Tom,
    Exactly what I needed to hear today. Thanks for the inspiration. I think this quote from Theodore Roosevelt is timely based on your post - Thanks again.

    "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat".
    Best,
    Alan

    1. Hey Alan - glad you liked it!

      And I LOVE that quote by Teddy Roosevelt. I just wrote a blog post that includes it, actually 🙂

      Thanks for commenting and sharing!

      - Tom

  2. Exactly true! I started my Facebook page on the American Walkabout only 5 days ago. I started school on June 11th of last year, but it still took me a while to wrap my brain around just how big my dream actually is, how I wanted to proceed with it, as well as realize just how much help I need bringing it into Fruition. But its going to be Great! I can't wait.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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