Comments on: Start

By: Suzy

Suzy — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:42:23 +0000

I find that once I just START any idea that I’m thinking about, it tends to take on a life of its own. In other words, I find that there is a point at which you can’t plan everything out to the very exact detail. That’s where most people get stuck. They get to a detail that they can’t figure out and they throw up their hands and say “forget it.” If you have a desire to do something then it is meant to be. Once I start then I can modify as I see what is needed. Yes, you are right it all begins with that first step.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:38:47 +0000

Yes, just start. I had a big fix for my computer, not hard, that I could not make myself do. It was a series of steps flowing into one another. Finally I did a few steps, then later on in the day a few more. What was that slogan for Nike a a few years ago? Just do it.

By: Diane Eberle

Diane Eberle — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:22:36 +0000

I wanted to comment on the breastfeeding. For a part-time job, my perspective would be that unless it is more than six hours straight pumping may not be needed. I’ve breastfed three kids on full time and part time schedules. I’ve also done presentations for the local la leche league yearly meeting on the working mom. Other options to buying a new pump (deluxe or not) include purchasing a used pump- you can buy attachments new which would need to be sterile and the marmet techique otherwise known as hand expression. Another option is checking with insurance companies which may either have rentals or reimburse for the pump. It is to the insurance companies benefit since breastfeeding reduces or eliminates ear infections, insurance claims and sick doctors visits and reduces or lessens the severity of allergies or allergic reactions. On another note, I’ve really enjoyed this article and found it to be very true. Coincidentially, the night before reading it, I decided to start on my big dreams- and worked 15 minutes at a time alternating between getting rid of clutter and revamping my resume. My big dream for right now is to get a telecommuting or more flexible job so I can spend more time with my kids. I was able to get a lot done in about two-three hours and feel motivated to do more and trying to find ways to eliminate bills and reduce monthly expenses.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 05:11:55 +0000

Trent-
I wish I had read this post first off before I mixed a fresh batch of laundry detergent and sat down to read the news and attend to my e-mails two-hours ago. I also need to hash-out a budget and sleep schedule for the fall semester which starts for me tomorrow.
I also agree that following the steps in your post today to be vastly superior to letting things slide until the “fire” starts to get out of control and needs to be put out. My problem is that I tend to make-do with the situation as the sparks start flying because I am used to being stressed and weighed-down by the things that I let pile up. I’m like the biology experiment frog that boils to death in the pan of water that has the temperature slowly turned up. In reference to that experiment, how do people who are, and have been, weighed down by life and the many stresses that accompany life on this planet adjust the jump-out-of-the-water point for making these “the start” style decisions?

By: Gal @ Equally Happy

Gal @ Equally Happy — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:49:07 +0000

Also, don’t spend those two hours trying to figure out which big thing you want to do. Just pick one. Even if you’re not sure it’s THE most important one. If it’s something you want to do and you think will have a big impact, just get started. It’s better than sitting around doing nothing.

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:37:40 +0000

David,
I agree that sometimes you need to just jump in.
That’s how I started working out – got out my CC and purchased some training sessions. I actually resisted pressure from my trainer to set goals – for about 2 months. My only goal at that point was to get into the habit of working out.
That’s how I started by blog (still only 1 post, but I’m working on another one). That’s how I paid off my CC and made big progress with my car/student loans – just jumped into it, no goals.

Some goals are so big, you just have to pick the first step and start doing it.

By: WendyH

WendyH — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:33:51 +0000

Good advice, last year I actually decided NOT to do something by sitting down and writing everything out like you suggested. I explored starting a business, but found out a lot of things about myself and the proposed business idea when I wrote a business plan and had to figure out HOW to do what I wanted to do to make it work. That hasn’t disuaded me from starting my own business, just gave me a better direction so I know what it will take to be successful. I think that having a well thought-out plan can also help with the fear of the unknown, whether it’s a career change, business venture, or just a financial plan.

By: Carol@inthetrenches

Carol@inthetrenches — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:29:25 +0000

Trent, was there a specific event or influence that was the catalyst for changing you from a dreamer to a doer?

By: Trudy

Trudy — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:59:10 +0000

Very timely post for me for a variety of reasons! I won’t be sitting down tonight for 2 hours – already scheduled events – but I will in this weekend. Thanks!

By: Money Reasons

Money Reasons — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:21:26 +0000

I created a Business Snowball.

First I had an eBay business, then I used the money from that to start my blog, next I’ll take the money from my blog and start another business I have yet to create.

By: moe

moe — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:40:30 +0000

Hey Trent,

This is digressing, but why didn’t you do a book signing when you were Indy?

Moe

By: MikeTheRed

MikeTheRed — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:30:16 +0000

This is probably one of the best and most direct pieces of advice you’ve ever written here Trent. It gets at a basic point that thought, ideas, dreams and wishes are essentially nothing without execution.

And it’s not about huge goals either, to David’s point above. If your dream seems insurmountable when looked at as a whole, then break it up into discrete chunks that can be accomplished over a shorter time span. It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, it just has to be something.

By: coolkit

coolkit — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:33:46 +0000

Very powerful post! Nothing can farther from the truth that mountains are conquered by taking the first step. Dreaming about climbing the mountain is great, because it fixes a visual image of where you want to be, where you want to go and what you want to be. But dreaming alone will keep it just out of the reach. Starting towards it with baby step here and baby step there is all that is takes to get to the result.

For many (friends and family), I find, that reaching 75% towards the goal and then stopping for whatever reason is attributed to failure. I think it is 75% success, because along that journey you learn a lot more about yourself, refine that goal. I see a lot of that when folks are trying to lose weight or get out of debt. Making just small changes in eating habits and saving just a tad amount more can lead to steady loss of weight and gain in cash balance.

Several months back, sitting down one sunday morning with a cup of coffee, I did just that, I spent probably more than 2 hours but it was depressing and hurtful, but starting to write it down and plan a future, I feel more empowered to forge ahead because I have a path, not just a plan.

By: David/moneycrashers

David/moneycrashers — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:39:49 +0000

I highly agree with the concept of “starting” but not so much with goal setting. When I first started out getting out of debt, I was so far in the hole, if I had set a goal early on, I may have gotten discouraged and given up.

For example, what should I have done–when I figured out I was $25K in debt, make my goal that I want to only be $20K in debt in six months?

What a depresing goal.

I’m not saying it will work for everybody, but in the beginning, I put my head down, ignored the balances on all my CC statements, and bulled my way through that debt.

Once the balances got to a level actually in this stratosphere did I formulate specific goals.

Just one man’s opinion…

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:13:13 +0000

#6 MM has a very valid point about fear. It keeps people from doing so many things. That first step toward any change seems so big but it really takes a lot of little steps. I have found that breaking big projects down into manageable chunks works so well.

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:56:20 +0000

Hey, Trent, readers who find this post motivating might get something out of Barbara Sher’s book Wishcraft: http://wishcraft.com/ It’s one of my favorite inspirational books (the kind that I pick up every few years for a jolt of energy), and it runs along the theme you touch on here: that there really is a concrete series of small steps between you and your wildest dreams, you just have to sit down and plot them out, and then *do* them. Because when you have a map of where the small steps are taking you — and it’s the place your heart of hearts desires to go — how can you *not* be motivated to take them?

She has a blog too, though it’s a bit out of date: http://www.barbarasherwishcraft.com/wc-blog.html

By: Ralph Ruiz

Ralph Ruiz — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:50:14 +0000

For twenty nine years I’ve read the books, attended the seminars, listen to some pretty interesting speakers. I’m 53 as I write and I’m Behind on accomplishing anything of lasting consequence. Tonight I read this post. It’s a new day. Thank you Trent. Thank you so much. Just what I needed to read. I just got demoted at work and for some reason i feel…relieved. Two hours coming right up…

By: Systemizer

Systemizer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:29:31 +0000

“Go home and spend two hours on the big thing you’re dreaming most about in your life.”

I have a goal to stop visiting a blog whose author discloses too much about himself, making me feel like a voyeur.

Start fail.

By: Shan

Shan — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:14:18 +0000

THANK YOU TRENT! I needed this post, today. I’ve been working all summer on getting my new business licensed and ready to open so that I can be at home with my sons in the day, and have run into various forms of red tape. I know that I can get them all sorted out tomorrow if I stop putting things off and create a concrete list tonight of who I need to call… and what I need to say. Thanks again.

By: Barb Friedberg

Barb Friedberg — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:35:04 +0000

The power of goals is life transforming as you so clearly stated. Over decades, I have set financial, academic, and various other goals. In my experience, after writing down a goal, it is only a matter of time before it is completed. I don’t worry about the end product, just enjoy the process, and the end result evolves over time (with effort, of course).