I’m in the midst of witnessing one of my favorite things about my job right now.
It’s nothing new; I see it all the time, but it never gets old.
I’m observing the beginning – the start of something good.
And it makes me crave more – more beginnings, more emergence, more movement.
Because the opposite is tough to watch. As a coach, I don’t want to see failure to launch.
People come to me looking for answers (and a kick in the pants).
But they think they need to figure everything out before taking the first step.
“I just need to make a plan.”
“I’m not sure if now is the right time.”
“I want to be certain before I do anything.”
Sound familiar? These are tell-tale signs of being stuck.
I’ve been at this for decades, and I can say with confidence the thing keeping most people stuck isn’t a lack of ideas, skills, talent, or know-how.
It’s the belief that you need to know it all before you start.
But here’s the truth that surprises almost everyone:
You won’t find certainty before you start. And you don’t need it, because…
Starting creates certainty.
Getting started is the only thing that brings certainty – or anything else for that matter – into being.
One of my clients was struggling with uncertainty a few weeks ago and feeling stuck, stuck, stuck!
She had a brilliant idea and great instincts, but little confidence that she could pull it off.
She was overthinking every detail, caught in a loop, hesitant to hire me, unsure if she was ready.
Fortunately, she decided to take the leap.
In just three and a half weeks, she’s gone from paralyzed to productive.
She has systems, a marketing plan, materials in place, and her first client just about ready to sign.
What changed?
She started.
She didn’t gain confidence, and then take action.
She took action, and the confidence sprang from doing.
You may think I’m oversimplifying this, but here’s what I want you to consider—
Overthinking is a very sneaky form of self-sabotage.
It feels like you’re doing something. It tricks you into thinking you’re being smart, sensible, and shrewd.
But it’s really just hesitation dressed up as productivity.
Hesitation keeps you safe, comfortable . . . and stuck.
Action gets you moving, even if it’s messy.
Once you’re in motion, everything starts to shift.
Opportunities pop up.
Momentum kicks in.
Things begin to align and unfold even better than you could’ve planned.
Planning takes on new meaning as your foundation takes shape.
You can’t reach a destination – a successful business, a dream career, or any significant transformation – without starting first.
Progress moves faster than you think. But the path you’re imagining isn’t clear until you take that first step. Certainty shows up when you start walking.
Consider this permission, as well as a gentle push, from someone who’s been there, done that, and helped countless others hop over the fence and find their way.
You don’t need to be sure. You need to be brave.
Be willing to try, get it wrong, and start again.
It gets easier every time. There’s a divine order in motion, but to tap into the path to success, you first have to get started.
Let’s go!
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