Getting started matters more than getting it right [Discussion]

Submitted by TreatThompson t3_112cbln in GetMotivated

Lately I’ve realized life is more like the wheel of fortune than spearfishing.

In spearfishing you need patience. You wind up your shot and wait for the right moment to appear. And when it does, you need to precisely hit your target or else you mess up your opportunity for success.

In the wheel of fortune, I just spin spin spin until I land on jackpot.

When I was searching for a job after university I wasn’t patiently waiting for the perfect opening to appear on Linkedin. I was blasting out resumes and applying to every opening that was good enough. I would worry about “perfect” later on.

In 2020 I decided to start writing and publish online. I didn’t wait until I thought of the perfect brand name, discovered the perfect niche, and found the right voice. I just hopped in the pool and started splashing around. Spin, spin, spin.

This is the approach I now take for most new things, because so many endeavours are a numbers game.

Dating might be the best example.

If I worry so much about getting it right the first time, I won’t take a step to start. I’ll end up empty handed.

This quote captures it perfectly

>If you are the kind of person who is waiting for the ‘right’ thing to happen, you might wait for a long time. It’s like waiting for all the traffic lights to be green for five miles before starting the trip.—Robert Kiyosaki

The important thing to keep in mind is that you can improve something that’s bad, but you can’t improve something that doesn’t exist.

A perfect plan will never take you anywhere on its own.

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This post was from my newsletter

I share ideas from great thinkers so we can stand on the shoulders of giants, instead of figuring life out alone

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Comments

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TreatThompson OP t1_j8j6izq wrote

James Clear has a quote that aligns with this

“If you're not working hard, ideas don’t matter. The best idea is worthless without execution. If you're already working hard, ideas are crucial. Most effort is wasted on mediocre ideas.”

If you’re not in motion and taking action then your ideas are irrelevant. Ideas only have value when they are brought to real life.

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UwaNtItwiX t1_j8lkr6k wrote

Over the last few years ive taken taken the approach of not forcing things and letting things happen . Wuwei . There are different approaches to life . Still finding the best way for myself . Just need a reason

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TreatThompson OP t1_j8morak wrote

That’s a great concept

I subscribe with that too

I forget who said it, but I read in life we can float with the tide or try to force ourselves down a path

I definitely choose to float with the tide when it comes to what direction I go towards

Thanks for sharing!

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No-Ad8720 t1_j8kkh3q wrote

Bravo. I am a classic over-thinker and need this kind of insight. Thank you.

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TreatThompson OP t1_j8kodwe wrote

I definitely can get into overthinking bouts too

Glad this clicked with you! 😄

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deborah-southgate t1_j8r06q0 wrote

I love this. I personally take a project-based approach to making changes and improvements to my life - which means that I have to press ahead and make a start even when I don't have all the answers - and learn and refine my approach as I go.

Doing something (anything!) to work towards the life you think you want is better than being frozen in fear of getting it wrong - and definitely better than waiting for 'perfect'. If you do something that turned out to be wrong, there will always be some learning you can take from it which will be useful for you in future, so no effort is completely fruitless.

That job that isn't the one you want right now might be the one where you learn something that helps you set up your own business in 5 years time. That person you date now that isn't your 'perfect' dream date may turn out to be someone who becomes a lifelong friend, helps you get your next Job or introduces you to your future partner.

And every time you try something new you'll be growing your self-confidence and proving to yourself that you can take control of your own situation.

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TreatThompson OP t1_j8sev39 wrote

That is very well said!

We never know the true impact of something—the butterfly effect can show itself years later

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