Getting Started Is The Hardest Part

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Hi everyone, today I want to talk about the hardest part of achieving a large goal; actually getting started. How many of you have goals that are important to you but have been waiting for “the right time” to take action and get started on them? I’ve heard hundreds of excuses over the years and used quite a few myself so I know that many goals never make it past the “dream” stage. Let me tell you, life is short, and conditions will probably never be perfect, but that shouldn’t stop you from starting small. Don’t wait for the kids to leave the house, your spouse to win the lottery, or whatever is preventing you from achieving goals that will let you lead a more fulfilling life.

I’ve learned that starting a project or goal instantly gives confidence and feels like a weight lifted from your shoulders. Somehow the goal seems less intimidating after the initial step of just getting started. Maybe your goal will ultimately take some money to finish it completely, but you will benefit from reading and engaging with others who are on similar journeys toward the same goal and find there’s a lot you can do for free.

For professional or career goals, there’s never been a better time in history to get into an industry you’ve always wanted to work in because most industries are struggling to find help. There’s twice as many open positions in America as there is people looking for work which means employers are motivated to hire someone with a good attitude and a passion for the industry and teach them how to be successful in it. How awesome would it have been to start learning what you needed to do your dream job a few years ago so that in today’s economy, an employer would see that although you don’t have all the credentials, you’re definitely passionate about the work? Do your future self a favor, build some confidence, lift that weight, stop making excuses, and start today!

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The Power of Starting Small

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Humans are incredibly complex because we all have unique experiences and personalities that form our perspectives about the world we live in. One thing most of us have in common is the desire to achieve personal or professional goals that we believe give greater meaning to our lives. Why is it then, that we so often fail when attempting to achieve goals that are so important to us in the beginning? I believe in our initial excitement and energy that comes with forming a new goal, we set the expectations too high, and when we fail to achieve milestones, we feel the power of defeat and throw out the goal altogether.

I’m an incredibly ambitious individual and as a result, many times my goals outrun reality or cause conflicts with important commitments (like being a husband and father). Over time I’ve learned to assess the goal up front to: 1. Determine if the goal holds enough personal value to dedicate time to because it means pulling time away from prior goals. 2. Focus on the first milestone, not the last. This method has been incredibly powerful in achieving goals but has also helped me improve the relationships that suffered when I was trying to achieve huge goals that took time away from those relationships.

This initial post is to introduce Start Small at a high level. I’ve developed the Start Small method through many personal trials that caused a lot of pain so to help you achieve your goals without the pain, I’ll be writing about specific examples in the future and I hope you’ll follow along, it’s going to be powerful.