Start
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” — Cleanthes
The Obstacle
All over the world we made a lot of promises last night.
Promises to work out.
Eat better.
Make amends.
Live differently.
Finally start the project.
Build the business.
Be a better version of ourselves…
And now we wait.
We wait for the right time.
More resources.
Knowledge.
Skills.
Clarity.
Confidence.
We wait for someone else to join.
We wait for permission.
We put rules around starting.
Try to control too much.
Don’t want to disappoint or be disappointed.
We want it perfect, so we wait
Nothing moves.
The Gift and Opportunity
Nothing is ever ready.
No one is ever ready.
There will never be enough time.
Knowledge.
Certainty.
Resources.
People will not show up.
Support may not come.
Conditions may never improve.
But we can show up.
Stop waiting.
Remove the conditions.
Start before we feel prepared.
Starting doesn’t come from planning.
It comes from doing.
We Start.
We are bad.
We learn.
We get better.
The Practice of Self-Mastery
Start where you are, not where you think you should be
Remove all conditions you’ve placed on beginning
Act before confidence or motivation arrives
Show up, even when no one else does
CHEAT CODE: START SMALL → START NOW → START WITHOUT CONDITIONS → START ALONE
