Starting something that is new is always a challenge. There are a lot of variables that go into a new business, new project or a new job. If you aren’t careful, uncertainty can take over and ensure that you never hit the ground running.
It all starts with the following statement. “I don’t even know where to start.”
Have you ever made that statement? It usually comes after you have taken stock of all that needs to completed in a project or in your business. The solution for most? Don’t do anything.
Usually Our Problems Are Much Simpler To Solve Than We Think
I learned a lesson about making the simple complex when I had a leak in my sink pipe in an old house that I had. My solution for fixing the problem? A large bowl. It was a slow leak so I knew I wouldn’t have to empty the bowl that often. The problem is that it’s kind of gross and it takes up valuable storage space.
After 6 months of this and the occasional comment by my wife, I decided to fix the leak. Was it a long process? Did I have to consult the web for help? Call in a professional? Buy lots of tools? None of the above. It took me about 5 minutes to fix. The pipes just weren’t aligned quite right and I just had to readjust them.
How We Let Perceived Complexity Win Out
I was so sure that the plumbing problem in my house was complex that I just assumed I couldn’t fix it. Why did I do this? Because I am not a plumber and have very little experience in plumbing. The other thing is that I am not necessarily a real handy guy at least that’s what I tell myself. The reality was that I was the complex variable not the leaky pipe.
How Your Story Fits In All This
When you don’t start something, complexity and fear of the unknown play a role. What else plays a role? Our stories. One thing that held me back from fixing my sink is the story that I tell about not being a handy person. The more I tell this story, the more of a self fulfilling prophesy it becomes. I am sure you can relate in some way to this.
What You Do Next
If you have a project that you currently haven’t started due to not knowing where to start. Ask yourself if it’s really the complexity of the project or some other story that you are telling yourself that is keeping you from getting started.
From there identify the ideal outcome of the project and then break the project up into little chunks so that you can start accumulating some small wins. As you gain these wins, you will start gaining confidence that you can achieve the end result and things will snowball from there.
Don’t let uncertainty and stories keep you from getting projects done. You just have to get started. Once you’ve started, you are more than halfway there. When you keep yourself out of your own way, anything’s possible.