Why Do We So Often Overlook the Power of a Good Beginning?

The Prevalence of "Just Do It" Thinking

We've all heard the sayings: "Just do it," "Dive in headfirst," "Fail fast, fail often." Our culture is full of idioms and axioms that encourage us to take action, embrace failure, and push through to the finish line. And don't get me wrong – there's a lot of value in these ideas. After all, who doesn't want to seize the day and achieve their goals?

But lately, I've been wondering: Why do we focus so much on jumping in and finishing strong, but so little on starting right?

Think about it. How many sayings can you recall that emphasize the importance of a good beginning? "A good beginning makes a good ending," sure. But beyond that, our collective wisdom seems to be skewed heavily towards the middle and end of the journey. Even entire business philosophies and methodologies, such as Agile, Scrum, Lean Startup, and Design Thinking, prioritize iterative progress, rapid prototyping, and learning from failure over extensive upfront planning. Again, these ways of thinking and doing are definitely valuable, but they are not the whole story. And when built on faulty beginnings, even these methodologies fail to produce success in an efficient manner, or even at all.

Language Reflects Values

This got me thinking about the power of language – the sayings, idioms, adages, and aphorisms that shape our thinking and reflect our values. These bite-sized bits of truth, passed down through generations, often go unexamined. But they have a profound impact on how we approach life's challenges. When our language is filled with phrases that prioritize action over preparation, endings over beginnings, it's no wonder we often neglect the crucial first steps.

The Missing Piece

This realization led me to ask: What if we're missing something crucial by overlooking the power of a strong start?

In my work as an educational researcher and innovator, I've seen firsthand how laying a solid foundation can make all the difference. From early childhood education to entrepreneurship, the way we begin often sets the trajectory for everything that follows.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln

Research across fields like psychology, education, leadership, and project management (just to name a few) highlights the long-term benefits of investing time and effort in starting right. Studies show that developing a strong base of skills, setting clear goals, and planning ahead can lead to better learning outcomes, higher achievement, and more successful projects.

So why do we have so many sayings about finishing and so few about beginning? Is it because endings are more dramatic, more emotionally satisfying? Is it because we're impatient to see results and don't want to spend time on preparation? Or is it simply a blind spot in our cultural narrative?

"Start Right" vs. "Start Perfect"

It's important to note that having a "Start Right" mindset doesn't mean you have to "start perfect." Embarking on any new endeavor involves a degree of uncertainty, and it's impossible to know everything from the very beginning. That's why methodologies like Agile, Scrum, Lean Startup, and Design Thinking emphasize iterative progress, learning from failure, and continuous improvement. However, starting right means laying a solid foundation by clearly understanding the problem you're trying to solve, setting well-defined goals, and having a strong sense of purpose. It's about taking some time to plan and prepare, while remaining open to adaptation and iteration as you learn and grow.

A Call to Conversation

I don't have all the answers, but I believe it's a conversation worth having. So, I want to hear from you. What are the best sayings you know about starting well? Why do you think we neglect the importance of good beginnings? And how can we shift our mindset to embrace the power of starting right?

Let's challenge the conventional wisdom together and explore what happens when we give beginnings the attention they deserve. Who knows – we might just discover that the way we start is every bit as important as the way we finish.

-Anastasia Betts, PhD