“I was thinking about starting to study for my GRE.”

“I was thinking about starting to look for another job.”

“I was thinking about starting to work out again.”

There’s something inherently wrong with starting any sentence that way. You’ve already set up too many self-imposed barriers for yourself to succeed (or is it too many barriers to think about starting to succeed?)

How about we make an agreement that we will first dispel any of the excuses you were going to make tomorrow or next week when you were supposed to be starting? They weren’t that great anyway.

How about we agree that you will do right now? After all, you’ve made this pact with yourself before: the list of things that you will surely need to get into shape, the estimated schedule of library hours, the research into creating a one-of-a-kind, enviable resume.

The point is not to completely dissuade you from doing those things. Going blind into a challenge may be a rewarding experience at times but it is not an effective strategy for everyday living. I would love to be proved wrong about that! The point is this: while preparation is a key to success we have become a society drowning in information. You can spend the next five years researching resumes or trying to figure out how to gain a few extra grams of casein protein without raising your blood sugar levels before bed.

 

Stop worrying that you don’t have all the information and just start. You’ll thank yourself later.