“I will start tomorrow.”
“I will start next Monday.”
“I need to take care of a few more things before I can start.”
Sound familiar?
I’ve said this so many times.
The sheer amount of tasks we take on can keep us from ever getting started.
A common roadblock is believing that we need to have everything “perfect” in order to get started.
This may result in putting off important goals until you can check off the smaller ones, most of which tend to be tedious and non-essential.
Since the perfect situation will rarely, if ever, occur, this dilemma leads us into a vicious cycle of inaction. The longer we put off starting the thing that we so desperately want, the less time we will have to achieve it.
Time is irreplaceable and our biggest asset, making the situation above a problem for our everyday peace of mind and future success.
3 THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED
1) THERE WILL NEVER BE A PERFECT TIME TO START
“I’ll begin my new workout program on the first of next month so I can start fresh.”
“I’ll start eating better after the holidays.”
If you’ve been reading to this point, you know that you don’t need to be perfect to get started. You don’t ever have to be perfect; rather, strive for consistent and dedicated improvement over time.
2) SUBTRACT FROM YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Subtracting from your environment is to clean, organize and simplify.
Subtracting clutter and decisions will allow you to focus on your top priorities, while leaving the unimportant tasks out of your peripherals and off of your mind.
Simplifying your environment can minimize the decisions that take over your day.
Fewer decisions mean a clearer path towards getting shit done.
Trouble focusing on your deskwork?
Make sure your office is clean and all other assignments are filed and out of sight.
Trying to eat higher quality foods but constantly find yourself reaching for the junk in your cupboard?
Minimize or completely rid of the temptations that your kitchen holds.
One of the most effective ways to immediately improve discipline is to audit your environment.
Put systems in place that will help you get started and stay focused throughout adversity.
3) YOU WILL LEARN AS YOU GO
This concept was especially hard for me as I contemplated starting a fitness Instagram account back in the fall of 2017.
Worried that my lack of public credibility in the fitness industry would push away any potential viewers, I put things off.
After sharing my concern with one of my online “mentors,” I received some insight which to this day is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received:
“Your knowledge will improve with the more you share and create and connect with people. That’s part of your training. Go out there and share what you know. Share your ideas. Have fun along the way and don’t worry about credibility – you develop that once you get started.”
Joe Duncan
Once you take that first super small (but significant) step, you will create a tidal wave of momentum that builds over time, along with your knowledge, experience and expertise.
Please don’t let a lack of credibility keep you from getting started like I did. Learn from my mistake and just start something. Start anything.
Taste different things.
See what you like, where your strengths lie and what makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning and work for it.
Whatever that thing is, do that.
Start.
