Although it’s hard for me to believe, today is my 250th blog post in 250 weeks.
At the top, I want to personally thank all of my readers who have taken the time to not only read my posts but also pass along my essays to their sphere of influence. Thank you so much!!!
The hardest part in beginning my blogging journey was taking the first step. In a minute I’ll reveal why most people fail or put off taking their first step.
Eight years ago I made an impassive first attempt at a blog.
After two posts I caught a convenient case of excuse-itis and found numerous reasons to quit: my writing wasn’t good enough, nobody will find my essays of interest, my website technology lacked a good enough platform for a blog, to name a few.
Fast forward three years and my friend Mitch, an avid blogger himself, talked to me about the importance of a blog for driving traffic to my website. He was also of the opinion I had lots of important things to say and share with the reader and potential clients.
Mitch encouraged me to begin though I resisted his idea as if I was about to undergo a root canal.
I remember being taken aback by Mitch’s comments. I thought “Who me? What could I possibly say that hasn’t already been said in a voice that would be of interest to the general public?”
Long story short, it took me another six months of self talk from my Itty Bitty Shitty Committee to get up the courage to begin again.
Writing is difficult for me. In fact many famous writers will tell you the same. My favorite quote about writing is from a professional writer named Dorothy Parker who said:
“I hate writing. I love having written.”
The first step is the hardest to take.
I’ve coached hundreds and hundreds of clients and more times than not, my experience has shown the bigger the fear, the longer it takes the client to put the car into gear, take their foot off the brake and gently press the gas and propel themselves into motion.
Once you begin, the feeling is cathartic.
In fact, along your hero’s journey, your fear might expand and become bigger and brighter on your radar screen. Here’s the thing. Fear while in motion is different than fear while in neutral.
When you’re stuck in neutral you contemplate all the things you need to know, all the resources you don’t have, and all the mistakes you could possibly make.
When you’re in action going after your endgame, you experience various degrees and moments of success. It’s these tiniest of wins that contribute to the malleability of your brain and shapes your new behavior as you march towards the finish line.
I remember taking a client through the career transition program, Now What – 90 Days To A New Life Direction. A successful boomer making big bank in the corporate world though on the inside was intrinsically starved.
After successfully going through my discovery process, and achieving the gig of his dreams he said “I wish I would have started this program sooner.”
The first step is the hardest to take.
I’m going to ask you to consider taking that first step, even though you don’t feel the timing is right. Truth is, there will never be a perfect time to begin. Believing the contrary is simply another excuse to delay. Just being real here.
I’ll leave you this quote by one of my favorite authors:
“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
― Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles
What’s your endgame?
Today, do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Take that first step.
If you’d like a partner, contact me for a consultation to discuss your first step.
T: 315.303.2180 Skype: Esteban.Borek
I’m glad you took that first step Steve. You’re an amazing guy, always willing to step outside your comfort zone and most of the time you make it work. I’m been lucky to have had the opportunity to read your blog all these years; I knew a good thing when I saw it 🙂
It’s hard to believe but I have taken a lot of first steps over all my years. I’ve learned that even when you start closing yourself off from some of the missteps that have taken place,if you’re truly one hoping to grow you’ll sucker yourself into other steps. I hate those that backfire but love when a plan comes together.
Mitch, it’s a great quality being able to see dormant potential in someone who can’t see it themselves. That’s what great coaches do! 🙂
Those first steps lead to experiments. (as you commented in the Oprah post)
There’s an idea for a blog post. How about this title:
“The One With The Most Completed Experiments Wins”
That would work, only I hope it only takes me a few experiments to be imminently wealthy and healthy 🙂
The older I get, I so much appreciate the days I wake up and feel great. Grateful that today is one of those days.