Just Get Started!
Bryan Yager
My passion is helping leaders, teams and organizations achieve results and expand their capacity for growth and success.
First a quote: “It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings
Hello and happy Monday!
One of my very first jobs (before I was even old enough to have a job) was mowing lawns. I also delivered the Des Moines Register daily newspaper, but that’s a story for another day.
For several years, it was my responsibility to mow not only our family lawn but also those of several neighbors. At $3.00 a yard, I was rolling in the dough! What a life—I could afford to buy an ice cream sandwich whenever I wanted at our favorite hangout spot: the local Texaco station.
While I enjoyed earning my own money, there were certainly days when I didn’t enjoy the work.
Mowing large yards with a push mower on hot, humid summer afternoons wasn’t nearly as fun as spending time at the community swimming pool or hanging out with friends at the gas station.
Occasionally, my dad had to “encourage” me to fulfill my responsibilities, offering words of wisdom that still ring true—even today, some sixty years later. His most frequent advice included:
And the focus of today’s missive:
“The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll finish.” – my dad
Among the many things I learned from my dad, I’ve also observed that
“It is the start that stops most people.” (attributed to Don Shula.)
Think about this for yourself.
You get the idea—getting started, or taking that very first step, is where most of us struggle with procrastination.
Think of it like pushing on a giant, stationary flywheel.
It takes tremendous effort and hard work just to make it spin ever so slightly.
But once it starts moving, it begins to spin faster and faster. With momentum on our side, we can become almost unstoppable. We just need to get started.
Even as a young teenager, I knew the satisfaction of admiring a freshly mowed yard—straight rows of mower tracks, neatly trimmed edges, no weeds, and a happy homeowner. Not to mention the three dollars in my pocket!
That sense of accomplishment is incredibly gratifying.
It becomes the foundation for tackling bigger challenges and seemingly overwhelming projects.
So go ahead put a little gas in the tank and pull the starter cord on your lawn mower. Before you know it, you’ll be admiring your accomplishments and success.
The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll finish!
What big project have you been procrastinating? When will you start—today? This week?
What small action can you take to get started on your next journey?
Maybe today is a good day to go to the gym or take a short walk. Maybe it’s the day to write that first paragraph, launch an important project, or sign up for a class.
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Bonus Quotes Below
How will you live, love, or lead differently, or better—this week?
Have a great week! (PS – I will be on vacation next week.)
Bryan Yager
"Expanding Your Capacity for Success"
* Revised and updated, originally published on October 29, 2018
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