How many resolutions, goals, and dreams begin with “I’ll start tomorrow”?
I guess a lot.
A new diet, a new routine, an increased focus on your work, health, social life, or gym time.
We know we want change, we know what should be done, we make plans, and pledge a commitment to start tomorrow.
And then – do nothing.
The main problem with I’ll start tomorrow?
There’s always a tomorrow.
Don’t get me wrong. Goals are great. Plans are great. And setting goals and planning your way on how to get there is the best.
The problem is when the actual starting part gets dragged out into days, weeks, and months.
We lull ourselves into a false sense of reassurance that we’re doing something, we will start it soon, but in reality, we’re still avoiding the hard part – actually starting. And it’s because we’re afraid of what actually starting will bring. Because while we hope for success, we fear failure. And the starting tomorrow state is the perfect illusion: we ARE working on it but without the real risks.
I’ve gone through this several times, most recently with this blog. I’ve planned it for months. I googled everything there is to know about starting a blog. Hosting issues, WordPress, the best plugins, SEO, how to edit images, social media sites, themes, cameras and lenses. It went on for months. I set out launch deadlines – and then missed them because I didn’t feel ready.
It was always tomorrow (or in my case, the 1st of next month)
At one point, it had to stop. I took a big breath, closed my eyes, and tomorrow became now. I pushed the go online button and that was it.
Was I ready according to my own standards? Hell, no. But I started, because I realized this could go on for eternity.
I didn’t have my social channels up, I had no idea about Pinterest promotion or SEO, but I thought I’d rather figure them out going forward.
And I’m doing just that. There’s still a lot to learn and a lot to do, but now I’m at least actually doing it.
If you’re still unsure about this, I’d recommend reading The Lean Startup. This business and product development technique is all about one principle: just launch. You can spend years on figuring out the perfect product, the problem is when you finally give it to customers and get hit in the face with the realization that they don’t actually need it. A better approach, according to this method is to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), get it out as soon as possible, and get feedback, test, and learn on the go.
I think most of use could use a little bit more of this startup mentality not just in our career, business ventures, but in our everyday life as well.
So, instead of starting tomorrow, start now.
It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect if you don’t feel ready (will you ever feel ready?), or if you feel like you need more time.
You don’t.
As the Nike slogan says: Just do it. It all begins with the first step.
No more excuses, no more tomorrows.
Get over the hard part and start the action. Everything will fall into place, I promise.
I feel like there’s such a deceptive sense of having more energy or commitment or “willpower” or confidence as some point in the future, but the truth is that that’s probably not true. I’m not sure I’ve ever regretted taking the plunge to do today what I could have put off until tomorrow (including my own blog as well!).
I agree a 100%. This is actually something I’m working hard to do more often, even if it means I have to “close my eyes and take the plunge”, I feel so much better afterwards!