We all have that one thing – something we really want to start working on and have been thinking about for as long as we can remember, and yet we just aren’t starting.
Maybe you have taken the first step and written down what all you need to do before starting, but then think “there is so much I don’t know!” So, you put the whole thing on pause and think you’ll get to it someday when you have time. But as I have talked about before, often times that “someday” never comes.
Whether you want to start a business, learn a new skill, or start working towards a personal fitness goal, if you are waiting to know everything before you begin, you will never start. Why? Because if we wait until we are ready to do things, we’ll never do them. No one is ever really 100% ready for anything.
The best way to get anywhere in life is to start, even if you do not have all the answers yet. Trust the process, and the answers will come to you.
Here are some things to remember when starting something new:
1. If you wait to know everything, you’ll never start. Like I mentioned earlier, you can’t ever know everything or be 100% prepared. If you are waiting for that, you will never start. So, if you are still unsure about your capabilities, make a list of the absolute bare minimum you need to know before getting started. Find your answers to those and then start. By creating a list of things you absolutely need before you begin, you eliminate the possibility of using your ‘lack of knowledge’ as an excuse to keep procrastinating on taking the first step. When you find answers to these questions, you have no choice but to begin.
2. Focusing on what you don’t know breaks confidence. If you get hung up on what you don’t know and all the answers you don’t have, you will forget the fact that you DO know a lot! It is easy to get lost in a bottomless pit of information that you don’t seem to have, but that shatters your confidence. Instead, focus on what you DO know. Build yourself up. Encourage yourself. With that confidence, you can achieve your goals! The key to success is hardly ever knowing anything; rather, it is believing in yourself and having the confidence that you can do it and you will learn whatever else that is needed as you go.
3. By getting started, you will ask more questions and gain experience. When you are aware that you do not have the answers to everything, something amazing happens; you open yourself up to the opportunity of learning more and expanding your knowledge. When you believe you know everything, you will stop your growth.
Remember, it is okay not knowing everything, because no one does. There are things that Elon Musk doesn’t even know. So be okay with not knowing. It is better to ask questions and be a constant learner and student of life, than to think you must know it all, and stagnate your growth.
4. There is no point in knowing everything. What is the point of trying to be an expert at everything? A big reason why successful people achieve their goals is because they focus on one goal at a time, play to their strengths, and cultivate their zone of genius, rather than diluting their time and energy trying to be good at everything. So don’t waste your time trying to find the answers to everything. Focus on what you know and what you are good at, and delegate or outsource the rest (that is necessary). If there is something you don’t know and is not necessary, then don’t worry about it.
5. Starting something new allows you to practice the art of letting go. When you don’t have the answers to everything and your plan is already in motion, you are forced to let go of some things you don’t know. This is an opportunity to get more comfortable to not having the answers to everything. And not only will this help you get started towards your goals, but it is also a life practice that will help you cultivate peace and acceptance. Breathe. Relax. It is okay to not have all the answers and all the knowledge.
If you want to start something, whether it is a new business, a new job, a passion project, or even a new goal like gaining 10 lbs of muscle, be aware of falling into the trap of having all the answers before you begin. Remember, you can learn as you go, and if you do so, you’ll grow even more. So go ahead and just start!
