start before you feel ready
5 steps to change your future
The voices in your head are telling you you're not ready yet, and they're right.
You can't start going to the gym until you know the proper form for at least 5 machines. You can't start writing until you figure out the perfect system to take your thoughts from idea to published post. You can't learn something new without having a comprehensive curriculum containing the best resources on the topic.
You're planning ahead. How else would you build a house without a blueprint and a 100-box checklist? You can't take step one until you have steps two, three, and four figured out. It's not procrastination, it's foresight.
If you want to transform your life, you've got to get it right.
When you finally take the first step - oh no - step two was not what you thought it would be. Step three is even far off, and there goes the plan you spent a whole week on. You go back to square one, modifying the plan again.
If you haven't caught on, this is what not to do when you want to pursue something new. Yet it is what many people default to.
Most people take too long to take the first step because they've imposed pre-requisites that don't need to be there.
It's not their fault - they were always given a roadmap. In school, they were taught to follow the curriculum. At home, they were taught to do what their parents said.
So, when it came time to create their own systems for fitness, for learning a new skill, for doing literally anything, their first instinct is to look for pre-existing systems.
But if school has taught us anything, it's that there is no one-size-fits-all system. You won't find a system tailored to you on the Internet.
You don't 'find' your system by researching, planning, and guesstimating. You build your system by doing.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one. - Mark Twain
As a wired earphone user (yes, I still use wired earphones), I'm used to untangling things. The best way to do that is not by pulling everything all at once, it's to pull on the loosest wire, and follow it through.
That's how I started running.
Before, I can't remember the last time I exercised consistently. Despite my okay metabolism and fairly balanced diet, I felt increasingly out of shape. Fueled by running creators online, I made it a goal to start running (very original, I know).
As usual, I procrastinated. Until something clicked - I guess I finally had enough - and I decided to just start somewhere. The 'loosest wire' in this case was searching 'beginner running challenge' online. I found the couch to 5k challenge, a very old running challenge whose website looked like it was made in 2007.
That Monday morning, I ran. I made many mistakes and felt lightheaded by the end. Now began the process of following through. To address feeling faint, I started eating a snack and drinking plenty of water before my run.
Then I realised I felt hungry after my runs. So I started looking for post-run meals that take into account nutrition and ease of preparation. I started doing pre-run warm ups and post-run stretches to reduce soreness. I started doing yoga on my off-days. I started waking up at 7am everyday (something I do because I run at 7+am 3 days a week).
I began improving my system based on feedback I was receiving by using it.
After a while, it hit me that I was doing it. I was running consistently and changing my daily habits to help me run better. It didn't all happen on day one. It happened over time, like solving a puzzle. You start with one piece, which doesn't make sense by itself. But you find the next piece connected to it, then the next piece, and so on, until a picture starts to emerge.
You don't need a master plan. You need momentum. Start moving, and the path will show itself. Waiting for clarity is just procrastination in disguise. - Isaac Wooden
There is no 'correct' first piece of the puzzle to start with. You can start with any piece. Start with the loosest wire. Start where you are. Then go from there.
Think of something you want to do but you're procrastinating on.
Pick something you can do right now to get started. Join a challenge. Sign up for a class. Get the tools you think you need.
Do the thing. Do it imperfect. Do it embarrassed. Draw, edit, film, write, act, sing, learn the instrument, swim.
What problem(s) did you face? What can you do differently next session to address it?
Repeat steps 3-4 over and over again.
The older I get, the more I realise the best way to pursue new things is to figure it out by doing. You won't get anywhere by researching, planning, or wondering. Solve problems you're facing now, not problems you think you'll face in the future.
Right now, you're not facing any problems because you haven't started. (And that's the meta-problem right now.)
The only thing keeping you from the top of the mountain is the series of steps you need to take to get there.
Start small. Start messy. Start scared.
Just start.
Thank you for reading! I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. If you liked this newsletter, share it with someone you think would like it too. See you next Sunday!
P.S. If you’re stuck in the cheap dopamine loop and want to reset your digital consumption habits, the 72-Hour Attention Audit will help you do just that. Subscribe to get the PDF in your welcome email for free.