Begin, then become
🕒 ~3 min read
Why Is Starting Hard?
Starting is often the scariest part of any journey because it’s the moment you confront all the “what-ifs.” We’ve all been there—staring at a blank page (as I am now) or any other new endeavor, thinking, “What if I’m not good at this?” or “What if this idea sucks?” Spoiler alert: if it’s your first time doing something, it probably will suck. And that’s okay. You’re not supposed to be perfect at something you’ve just begun. With time and practice, you’ll hone your craft.
The first step isn’t about excellence; it’s about embracing the courage to start.
What’s Stopping Us?
If you’re anything like me, excuses are often the culprit. Whether you think you need better equipment, more ideas, or support from others, you’re wrong. You don’t need anything but yourself to start. And here’s the thing: if one of your goals relies on public support—like gaining readers, followers, or customers—guess what people love? An underdog. Starting from nothing isn’t a liability; it’s a story. If you’re making the most of what you have, you’re already inspiring others.
What Can We Do About It?
Everyone’s roadblocks are different, but here are a few tips that might help:
Make failure your goal. Challenge yourself to pitch an idea or try something new with the expectation that it won’t be perfect. Share your concept with friends, family, or even anonymously on Reddit, and embrace the feedback. With every critique, you’re getting better.
Commit to consistency. Progress doesn’t come from bursts of effort but from showing up repeatedly. Whether it’s once a day, once a week, or once a month, set time aside to prioritize your goals. Consistency is where the progress comes from.
Hold yourself accountable. Tell others what you plan to do. Sharing your goals makes them real and gives you a support system that keeps you on track. Not to mention you’ll feel some regret if you don’t follow through, which can be a pretty good motivator.
You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to begin.
Why Does It Matter?
In a word: regret.
As Daniel Pink highlights in The Power of Regret, one of the most significant categories of regret is what he calls boldness regrets—the “I wish I had…” moments. These stem from inaction, from not taking the leap when it mattered most. Pink’s research shows that people rarely regret trying and failing in the long term. What haunts us most are the chances we never took.
Starting is undeniably the hardest part of any journey. But without that first step, you’ll never discover who you’re capable of becoming. You have the power to be your greatest supporter—or your own biggest obstacle. Life moves forward, with or without you. Take the leap. Try that thing you’ve always dreamed of—you won’t regret it.
Conclusion: Why You Should Start Right Now
So, why start? I’m not going to draw this out, it’s simple. Because it’s the only way to become the person you want to be. Begin then, become.
P.S. If you’d asked me five years ago what the odds were of me choosing to write, I would have laughed and said, “zero.” In high school, we had an assignment called the “Dragon Essay,” where we wrote about our personal obstacles. I chose writing itself as my dragon—the entire essay was about how much I hated writing essays. My teacher, Mrs. Hackfeld, tried to convince me that writing would follow me wherever I went in life. At the time, I was certain she was wrong.
Fast forward to today: Honestly, I’ve rarely had to write for work, but I’ve found great value in writing personally. So here I am, choosing to write web articles and paying a Squarespace membership to share them.
Hackfeld, you win.
