It’s coming to the end of the year, and if you’re anything like me, I’m trying to complete open projects, clear up my desk and emails. Are there projects or tasks that you’ve been procrastinating or putting off? Do you have excuses for why you can’t start that next thing? Whether it’s a business venture or simply getting back into a consistent fitness routine – the time to start is NOW!
Do you have an inner dialogue that keeps you from starting?
“It’s not the right time.”
“I’m not ready.”
“It’s not perfect yet.”
“I’m too busy.”
“I can’t.”
“I don’t have the [time/money/resources/etc].”
“I’m too [old/young/etc].”
“I don’t have the support.”
“I’ll get to it later, but I can’t today.”
Sound familiar?
In this post, I’m going to share why the best time to start something is NOW. Like, NOW now. I’ll share the benefits of finally taking action, give you some real-life examples, and leave you with three questions to ask yourself to get this show on the road.
Start Somewhere
When I turned 50, I thought it was about time to start getting into a consistent strength-training routine. When I first met with my trainer, I quickly became frustrated. I thought I was so much stronger than this!
It took a whole year of regular workouts to get to where I initially thought I was strength-wise.
Perhaps you’ve been thinking about deploying a new social media campaign or hiring for a new position. And maybe the thought that “I should’ve started ages ago” paralyzes you and makes you think it’s too late.
It isn’t.
See, most worthwhile efforts take time to get off the ground and see results.
A workout routine.
A blog.
A business.
A house.
You may not see results tomorrow, but your compounding, consistent efforts over time will pay off in the long run.
Start building now.
Build Smart
To get a good idea off the ground, you may need some sort of structure. And building that structure requires two things:
- Knowledge of WHO can help you make it happen; and
- Executing tiny habits that’ll get you there.
I was a guest on The Business Bros podcast. You can check it out here. They started their podcast three years ago, but it didn’t just pop out of thin air. They had to take the steps necessary to build, knowing that the return on their investment would come down the line. They were consistent and built smart and they played the long game.
Now, Hernan Sias is a well-known and well-connected real estate agent. And it’s no accident; the work, the habits, the to-do lists he’s committed to for the years leading up to today are what he credits with his success.
Any new project or mission looks daunting when you look at it as a whole.
A new business. A new hire. A new marketing campaign. A new wellness routine. A new podcast. And when you look at it that way, it’s easy to feel paralyzed by the pressure of it all.
When you break it down into manageable parts and plug in the right people to support you, things suddenly become very doable—and you’ll be more likely to finish what you started.
Before you know it, one habit will turn into another. The small things you checked off will build upon themselves and begin forming a foundation to stand on, and your goal will be in sight.
In his book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, BJ Fogg shares his methodology for building micro-behaviors that lead to big outcomes. A habit expert from Stanford University, Fogg explains that creating positive change isn’t as hard as you’d think when you do it in a way that’s wired in by positive emotions
So, build smart—and with a positive attitude. Break it down, then build it up.
“Enjoy the journey and embrace the destination when you get there” Nancy Salmeron
Build for the Future
The longer you wait, the longer you push out your finish line. But you already know this, and I understand how it can feel discouraging to be so far from seeing results. But don’t let your negative self-talk—or any other “no’s,” for that matter—stop you from taking the first step.
Think about it like this: If you do nothing today, your future self will have wished you did. Although you can’t do anything about what you could or should have done in the past, you can set your sights on the future.
Did I wish I had started working with a fitness trainer years before? Absolutely! However, when I was back to the strength level I wanted to be, I was grateful I started when I did.
And, along the way, be sure to celebrate the little wins that mark progress and inspire you to keep the momentum going.
The magic doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no true sparkle in the one-off.
Authentic, sustainable, and meaningful growth happens in your consistent, compounded efforts.
So, build for the future. Play the long game. And start with the first action NOW.
Your future self thanks you.
You don’t have to do it all on your own
When I was at University, working out was just part of my day and the gym was on campus. Despite various attempts over the years (and a full gym in my basement!), I didn’t start working out regularly until I hired my trainer. Someone who knew the best exercises for what I wanted to accomplish and who held me accountable.
The secret to achieving a goal that I kept rewriting year after year was having a coach.
You have to decide what you what you want to do, and the outcome you want to achieve. Past that, almost everything is reachable easier and faster if you involve other people. Whether it’s a community you join for the comradery and support, or finding the right person or company who can make it happen for you.
Your first step to start may be finding the right support.
Ready? Go!
Now’s the time to start. Answer these three questions to take your first step in the right direction:
- Where do you want to be?
- What is the first action to start?
- Who can help you?
You can start something—anytime. Click here to join our community (we carefully guard our list and never abuse) and receive your free copy of the Never Waste a Crisis ebook.
