Stop Playing the Waiting Game: Start Before You’re Ready

There is no such thing as the perfect time

It goes something like this:

“When X happens I’ll pursue the work I really want to doing.”

With X being…

• When I?get through this project
• When I?finish this course
• When I?find the funding I need
• When I?save up enough money
• When I’ve?found a co-founder
• When I?have a clear run of time

If you’ve had a burning desire to do something different but it’s not yet happened, the chances are you’ve been here before and trotted out the same excuses.

This isn’t unique to you, this is something we all suffer from.

Some call it procrastination island. Many never leave this place.

Illustration by?Gemma Correll

However the brave few realise that all of these walls we build around our dreams – whether time, money, resource or otherwise – are walls of our own making.

Brick by brick?we put up the defences to make it harder to shift to a work life that is more nourishing and fulfilling.

We’re caught?between a dream and a hard place?– and it’s debilitating.

That magical day in the future never comes.

And so we play it small.

“Life is large. But most of us don’t take up nearly the space the universe intended for us. We take up this wee space around our toes, which is why when you see somebody in the full flow of their humanity, it’s remarkable. They’re at least a foot bigger in every direction than normal human beings, and they shine. They gleam, they glow. It’s like they’ve swallowed the moon.” — Caroline McHugh

So why do we do this?

It‘s different for everyone, but it could be a fear or failure (even success). Or perhaps a lack of experience of knowledge.

If we’ve not done something before we can assume it’s more difficult, expensive or time-consuming than we ever thought possible.

The truth is, where we are now feels safe.

But to find the good stuff and live larger we need to push ourselves.

But is now the time to do it? Surely it’s reckless or just plain madness?

Many think that it’s a terrible time to start a business in the midst of a pandemic.

In fact this is an incredible time to do something new. Here’s why:

• ???The internet is the only playing field right now Whether or not you’re building an online business, every business touches the web in some way. This is an amazing opportunity to pursue your dreams or build your tribe. More and more people are flocking online and looking for help and belonging, and the barriers to entry are gone.
• ???You can be a bedroom entrepreneur From your home you can write and publish a book, make that film, start a podcast or YouTube channel, you name it. You no longer need funding, a swish office or a big team. You have everything you need.
• ???There are some incredible tools that make the process easy?and?fun It’s never been simpler to make a quick website using tools like?Carrd. Course creation doesn’t need any technical knowledge with tools like?Teachable?and?Kajabi. You can start a podcast in 30 minutes using?Anchor.fm. You don’t need to be a programmer to build your own professional and private community – tools like?Mighty Networks?and?Circle?take care of that.
• ????All the support you need is at your fingertips You don’t need to fly to an expensive conference halfway across the world. Online communities like?The Happy Startup School?that are focused on connection and collective inspiration are here to help you accelerate your progress and give you the confidence to step out into the limelight.
• ???The world needs you, your energy and your ideas — like now Even before Covid, problems were everywhere. But behind every problem is an opportunity. Now more than ever we need entrepreneurs like you to create new IP — ideas with purpose. Stop getting in your own way and instead ask questions like?‘What is life asking of me? What is my responsibility here?’.

We’ve spent almost a decade building a?thriving community?of kind-hearted and talented mentors, coaches, teachers and peers. But despite this safety net and support system, many won’t make the leap.

This is what drives me every day. To shake this belief that you don’t have to have everything you?think?you need to start taking the first baby steps.

Dreams don’t work unless you do

Despite what you might think, you are ready.

You have the ideas (even if you don’t yet know it).

And everything you’ve done up until now has been your teacher.

It can often take others to bring this out of you.

So start saying your dreams out loud.

Ask for help. And please, just start.

???Join us for?Start(up) Before You’re Ready?– a half day online workshop on Thursday July 15th to inspire you to bring your ideas to life. This could be the launchpad you need.

“I cannot recommend working with these guys enough. Maybe you are looking to launch something new that has been itching to get out or would love clarity on what your needs are and how to re-frame something you are currently involved with. Laurence, Carlos and Lana are fantastic people with endless valuable, empathic insight and support. If you do one thing in your life, connect and work with this team of people. You will be indefinitely better for it. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. Just do it.”

— Joel Lawton, Co-founder Green Kite, UK