Starting something entirely new might be the hardest thing that we want to get done perfectly. I know I do that. Who doesn’t want a good looking ball to start their roll with?

The Problem

Wanting the perfect start might actually hinder your growth in the long run. I have always been a huge fan of the phrase “Thinking does not necessarily mean doing“. We tend to get so stuck thinking about all of the things that we need to prepare we forget about actually doing it.

What is the problem with too much planning actually? It’s a great feeling to have all of the possible scenarios handled within your plan – until it’s not. Here’s the thing: no plan will ever be perfect. Given the time, there will always something that you nudge into our plan.

We keep finding these small imperfections until we don’t feel great anymore. We then shift from thinking how great our plan could be to anxiously thinking how can we keep our plan floating. Sometimes we might plan a bit too much that the thing that we were aiming to do never even got the chance to surface.

What if It Doesn’t Work?

The “thinking” part that I’m talking about not only refers to planning; It also refers to thinking about failing. As I’m writing this right now, I have thoughts like “what if this doesn’t make any sense to people?“, “would this even be remotely useful?“, “is this even grammatically correct?“. Those thoughts are what I like to call hard thoughts. Because they are hard, I tend to err into the side of easier things.

That is exactly why I wanted to start this; Forming new habits and improving myself along the way, regardless of how poorly I started. After countless iterations, we will surely pick up a thing or two that we have improved.

Especially when you’re starting out, it is completely normal to fail on your first few attempts. So don’t stress it out too much. I’ve been a long time follower of Wintergatan’s Marble Machine X. Albeit the many failures along the way, I don’t see them as failures. Over their many progress updates, we see how their work reflect who they are: persistent, bold, and creative problem solvers. That’s something to really admire, is it not? Don’t get tripped over about making the best thing on your first run. Focus on actually doing it and seeing what can be improved afterwards.

How to Start?

First and foremost, be brave and bold. The process of doing something new is like seeing many lego bricks spread around the floor – except the lights are off and you only have your phone light to navigate through the room. Most of the obstacles will likely sting you. However, the more you keep on persevering & trying again, it will also train you to be more resilient to the same obstacles and get you better and better.

Secondly, plan adequately. Place a roadmap for your plan, what can work X contribute in your roadmap? By having a specific end-goal in mind for each of your works, it can help you give the proper direction on what to do. Acknowledge that plans can change, and by giving yourself the ability to see your roadmap and end direction, you can quickly adapt your plans to suit your needs.

Thirdly, focus on learning and improving. Remember, this is a place to learn, not a test. James Clear’s article on Start sums it up perfectly: Excellence is not required for growth, and it is more important to start than to succeed. Right now, the world is saturated of comparison and validation. If the world says if you can’t be one of the best, then don’t bother doing it, don’t listen. Instead, take the risk of starting. Keep being curious on everything and keep working on it.

End Notes

Starting might actually be one of the hardest thing that we have to do, the challenges are steep and often times we are walking in the dark. However, the more we keep at it, the more light will illuminate our path, clearing out the darkness little by little, and finally opening new rooms to explore. I personally find that thought quite thrilling. If you are as excited as I am, then what are you waiting for? Don’t wait, just go do it!

Tags

• Self Help