Start Where You Are
Hello, friends!
Last week we introduced the concept of “The Circle of Competence” on Instagram. Then we followed up with this question on IG Stories: "What are you not good at?"
It turned out that many of the audience have problems with … are you ready? Yes, with STARTING!
The hardest part is starting. Once you get that out of the way, you’ll find the rest of the journey much easier.
—Simon Sinek
There are two very difficult pre-phases for any business or career:
What is right for me?
How do I start?
Every time I go through my old notebooks, I just want to scream! The idea for my company is right there! In early 2019, and again in 2020, I had the right idea, and even the right biz model for it, but it took me 3 years to take the leap.
Throw Your Excuses Away
As an immigrant without enough resources, who is also busy taking care of my family, I literally had a dozen solid excuses. But if I could know only one thing that I know today, I would have been much farther along in my game by now. And that one thing is: start from where you are.
You don’t have a full day? Start with committing only one hour a day. You don’t have a website? Start with social media. You don’t have a logo? The Hundreds is one of the most successful new gen streetwear brands, and they didn’t have a logo for the first 3 years of their biz!
You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
—Zig Ziglar
When In Doubt, Skate It Out
My very favorite example of starting early is the first issue of the iconic skateboarding magazine, Big Brother.
Big Brother was a pioneer of DIY publishing in the pre-Internet era. They were an icon of anarchy when it came to their content and symbolized the freedom of creativity!
“The spirit of the first issue, just the act of it, was rebellious”.
—Spike Jonze
What I found so inspiring is the label that they put on the cover of the first issue. This label sums up the whole idea of starting early. It reads:
“Warning: test copy
Due to the fact that no-one here had any idea what in the hell they were doing this issue has been declared a total failure. Therefore we have decided to give it away for free”.
In an interview in 2017 with Vice, Jeff Tremaine, the art and editorial director of Big Brother explained:
I haven't seen anything as revolutionary on the scene since. God dammit, the artists have to step up. It's all do it yourself. You don't need the Man to publish or distribute your shit out there. Make your own shit. Don't accept no for an answer. If there is something you want to create, you have no excuse to not go out and do it anymore.
I don’t know which part of your journey you are in. If you have already started a biz, a serious side project, or a new career, know that you have passed the hardest part of the game. You must be proud. You did something that made quitting hard. And if you want to just start, I hope this piece gave you something to reflect on.
Stay sane, stay yourself!
- Reza
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