I Don't Know Where to Start

What is the biggest reason so many of us fail to get started? There are countless reasons—or perhaps a better word is excuses. We have an incredible ability to convince ourselves why we can’t improve, why we can’t take action, why we can’t begin. One of the most common excuses I hear—and one I once used myself—is, “I don’t know where to start.”

We wait for the perfect conditions. We tell ourselves we need to know everything before we take the first step. The weather has to be just right before we go for that first run. We have to feel completely ready before we step into the gym. We believe we need a certain amount of money before we take the leap into a new business venture. We think that before we make any major change, it has to feel like the perfect time.

But let’s imagine for a moment that the perfect conditions did exist. You have everything lined up exactly as you want. What’s stopping you now? If we’re being honest, it’s probably the same thing—it’s that you still don’t know where to begin. And here’s the truth: no one does at the start. Every successful person you admire, every expert in their field, all started with little knowledge and zero experience. They immersed themselves in their craft. They failed. They learned. They grew. And over time, what seemed impossible at the beginning became second nature.

Now, let’s step back into reality. That perfect moment you’re waiting for? It’s not coming. The right time to start wasn’t three years ago, and it’s not three years from now. The right time to start is right now. It will be messy. It will be overwhelming. You will stumble. But the only way forward is to take that first step.

Stop waiting. Stop making excuses. Start learning. Start failing. Start growing. This is the only way you will ever improve. The only way you will ever make progress. You are the only thing standing in your way.

So, the question is—are you ready to get started?