Ready or not, it's time to start
Why readiness (and confidence) comes from action, not the other way around
Happy Friday, and welcome to this week’s Small Stuff Big Impact. We’re approaching that time of year where everyone starts thinking about resolutions and goals for next year. Despite the fact there’s a whole 7% of the year remaining (thank you Year’s Progress for the stat), we all start to push things to January, thinking “I won’t start that now, I’ll wait”. It’s another version of “I’ll start when I feel ready” or “I’ll start when I feel good” – that is to say, a way of avoiding starting now, and putting something off. And that’s often not helpful. Let’s dig a bit deeper.
Waiting to be ready
It’s a story we tell ourselves far too often: I’ll start when I’m ready. When I’ve gathered enough information. When I feel more confident. When the timing is better, the path clearer, the stars perfectly aligned. ✨
And so, we wait.
But what are we really waiting for? Most of the time, the readiness we crave never arrives in the way we hope. That reassuring moment of certainty – that internal signal that says yes, this is exactly the right time – remains elusive. Why? Because readiness doesn’t precede action; it follows it.
Think back to a moment when you accomplished something significant – perhaps giving your first big presentation, making a career change, or saying yes to a new opportunity. Were you completely ready when you began? Likely not. But by stepping into action, you found your way through and figured it out.
Readiness is less about preparation and more about momentum. We discover what we’re capable of by giving something a try, not by waiting to feel capable. The problem is, delaying so as to continue to prepare can feel deceptively safe. It gives us a way to avoid discomfort, mistakes, and vulnerability. Yet in doing so, we also avoid growth.
So, how do we flip the script? How can we move from waiting to doing, especially when self-doubt is whispering: “But you’re not ready yet.”?
Let’s look at five practical ways to start moving forward, even before you feel fully prepared.
One. Shrink the first step
One of the biggest barriers to action is overwhelm. The path ahead feels so daunting that we stay stuck at the starting line. To counter this, focus on the smallest possible step you can take right now.
Instead of saying, I need to write a book, say, I’m going to jot down three ideas for potential chapters. Instead of thinking, I need to overhaul my fitness routine, start with a ten-minute walk. Progress begins with a single, manageable action, it doesn’t require a grand gesture.
Two. Redefine what success looks like
When we’re waiting to feel ready, we’re often imagining some polished, error-free outcome. That pressure to perform perfectly can be paralysing and cause us to avoid starting in case we mess up.
Try reframing success as simply starting. It doesn’t matter if the first draft is messy or the first attempt awkward. In fact, embrace the fact that it almost certainly will be! Every expert you admire began with something imperfect. The goal isn’t flawless execution, it’s forward momentum.
Three. Create support structures
Structure beats willpower when it comes to taking action. Commit to a specific time, place, or routine for starting. For example: decide you’ll work on your idea for 15 minutes every morning after your coffee, or choose one day a week to experiment with something new.
The act of scheduling creates a prompt for action. Once it’s on the calendar, you can bypass the internal debate over whether or not to begin.
Four. Act as if
This isn’t fake it until you make it – it’s about practising your way into something. Start acting as if you are the person who’s already capable of doing the thing you’re aspiring toward. What would a confident presenter do? They’d draft a few key talking points. What would a published writer do? They’d sit down and write 200 words today.
By acting as if, you signal to your brain: “This is who I am now”. Over time, your actions and identity align. For more on this, have a look at Atomic Habits by James Clear and his discussion on the importance of identity in taking action.
Five. Lean on your community
Starting often feels lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Share your goal or first step with someone you trust. Join a group where others are navigating similar journeys. External encouragement can be a powerful antidote to internal hesitation.
Six. Be willing to learn on the job
It’s tempting to wait until you’ve mastered all the knowledge or skills you think you’ll need. But the truth is, the best learning happens in motion. Starting – even (especially) imperfectly – will provide you with feedback and learning that you will never get from endless planning.
Think of action as research: each step teaches you something about what works, what doesn’t, and what’s possible.
The courage to begin
It’s worth saying this once again: you will never feel completely ready. The perfect conditions you’re waiting for will likely never arrive. But the moment you take one action to begin – however small, however imperfect – is the moment you start to build momentum and make progress.
It’s OK to feel uncertain. It’s OK to feel unprepared. What matters is the willingness to take that first step anyway.
Because readiness is not something you wait for. It’s something you create.
What are you waiting to start until you feel ready? What action could you take this week, today, even right now, to start? Create some extra accountability and share your commitment with this community via the comments.
Stuck for a festive gift?
This Christmas, why not give the gift of intentional leadership and powerful connection with Do Sweat the Small Stuff: Harness the Power of Micro-Interactions to Transform Your Leadership.
It’s ideal for anyone looking to elevate their leadership, whether they manage a team, aspire to lead, or simply want to show up better in their personal and professional relationships. The book is packed with practical tools, reflective exercises, and real-life examples that inspire action.
How about giving it to a friend or colleague who deserves to feel confident and impactful in their role, or treat yourself to a powerful start for the year ahead? Or if you must, you could even buy it anonymously for that person you work with. I couldn’t possibly condone that behaviour however… 😂.
Buy your copy via Amazon UK, Bookshop.org, Amazon US or via this link for anywhere else in the world. #afflinks
Or, if you already have a copy, I’d be hugely grateful if you’d pop over to Amazon and leave me a review. That would make me very happy this Christmas!
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See you next week, where we’ll be exploring why you can’t pay attention, in Stolen Focus by Johann Hari.