You have what it takes to grow beyond what you imagine. Every huge success you admire started as a tiny, uncertain step. Yet, we often get stuck before we even begin because we’re scared, not of starting, but of *being seen* starting small.
I get it. I’ve been there.
When I first thought about launching an email newsletter, I immediately compared myself to giants like The Hustle, which boasts over 2 million subscribers and sold for eight figures. In my head, I was standing at the finish line looking back, instead of just taking the first step. The problem? That kind of thinking often keeps us stuck in limbo, waiting for the “perfect” moment that never comes.
“Staying small is what will kill you, not starting small,” I remind myself. It’s a hard truth. If you stay frozen because you’re afraid of how your beginnings look, you lose momentum before you’ve had a chance to build any.
Chris Williamson hit the nail on the head when he said, “You need to fall in love with the rise, not the result.” This is the mindset shift that saved me, maybe it can help you too. Instead of obsessing over hitting those crazy big goals overnight, focus on the process, the doing, the day-to-day climb. Because it’s the climb that teaches you, shapes you, and eventually leads to the summit.
Let me share a story that stuck with me. Arnold Schwarzenegger lost a bodybuilding competition because his calves were too small. Instead of hiding that flaw, he wore shorts to show off his “weakness.” The embarrassment became his fuel. He pushed himself harder, lifting absurd weights to turn that weak spot into a strength. Now, that’s owning your starting point and turning it into progress.
Here’s something I want you to hear loud and clear: nobody is watching your first steps as closely as you think. When you start out, maybe three people see what you’re doing, or maybe zero. That’s a gift. It’s your quiet space to fumble, learn, adjust, and get better without the pressure of an audience. Years down the road, when people call you an “overnight success,” they won’t see the years of effort stacked underneath.
And they love the effort. People connect with the story behind the success, the struggles, the setbacks, the grit. Think about Kevin Hart, grinding out 20 comedy shows in a weekend at small clubs. No spotlights, no fancy contracts, just relentless work. Yet now, he’s one of the most recognizable names in entertainment. His story resonates because it’s real, it’s raw, and it started small.
So how do you make your start count? You don’t just want to *start small* and hope for the best. You want to *start and grow.* Start and improve. Start and put in the reps, day after day. Track your progress. Celebrate the small wins, a new subscriber here, an extra push-up there. Those little gains add up.
But if you’re doing the same thing every day and seeing no progress after a while, it’s time to adjust. Change your approach. Learn what works and double down on it. The key is to keep moving forward, not spinning your wheels in frustration.
Here’s the king move I want to leave you with: start because you love the process, not because you want to skip to the result. Instead of saying, “I want to be on the cover of a fitness magazine,” say, “I’m someone who works out every day.” It’s a powerful mindset that shifts your identity and makes consistent action easier.
And when those moments of doubt hit, watch documentaries of people you admire. Look at where they started, not where they ended up. Their early struggles and small beginnings hold clues for how you can take your own first steps.
Remember what the legendary chess player Garry Kasparov said: “Chess is mental torture.” Life and business can feel the same way when you’re staring at a mountain you want to climb. But like the king in chess, your moves don’t need to be giant leaps. One small step, one deliberate move, can change everything.
Keep starting, keep moving. You’re building your story, and that story matters.
Listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9OwIBA7wUo
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