Do you believe you need an original idea to start a business, write a book, or even start a blog?
Or worse, do you think you have to be something you aren’t in order to take action?
Well, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because you don’t need any of the above.
What I do here at Wake Up Cloud isn’t amazingly original. I’m not the best writer. I’m not the smartest person around.
But I try to tell my story as honestly as I can.
Years ago, I let the belief of an original idea hold me back.
I looked at successful entrepreneurs. They were smart, wise, and connected, while I wasn’t.
Or at least that’s what I thought.
So I did nothing for years, until something snapped
I had excuses that kept me from starting.
When I thought I wouldn’t have anything to offer, I was afraid that people wouldn’t like what I did.
When I looked at successful entrepreneurs, I saw only impossibility.
These excuses seemed like facts instead of fiction.
They held me back until I realized I didn’t have to be perfect.
I only had to enjoy what I did, because from that enjoyment would come dedication, and from dedication, expertise.
Reaching the tipping point
One day I woke up and thought, “enough is enough. It’s time to start.”
I didn’t care whether or not I was original, or if I was going to succeed. I knew that if I didn’t start now, I’d end up waiting forever.
I had my doubts, fears, and worries, like anyone else.
I didn’t know what I was passionate about, but I did know what I was interested in.
It was time to take the first step
I focused on taking one step at a time.
I learned what I needed to learn as I went along, and it brought me here, to your screen on this fine day.
As I’ve taken one step at a time, I’ve realized that one of the keys to success is having the courage to find out what really happens when you take action.
Everyone has ideas and dreams, but few do anything with them.
You don’t have to find the perfect niche, an original idea, or create a groundbreaking product.
Yes, it helps, but it rarely happens right away.
So, you have to ask yourself one important question.
What’s holding you back?
Are you looking for your circumstances to change?
Maybe you think you’ll start when you have enough information, or more time, but it doesn’t work like that.
You don’t need anything other than what you’ve got.
When you take action, you learn, you grow, and you make progress.
I still have excuses and fears pop up when I expand and learn, but I keep taking action. I keep moving forward one step at a time.
You can spend years trapped in the search for an original idea, or you can begin with what you have.
The only thing that will make a difference is to take that first step.
Summary
Everyone has to face their inner gremlins.
Most don’t seem to ever challenge their mind. They give up, and let their dreams disappear in a cloud of fear.
You don’t need an original idea. At least not when you’re getting started.
As you take action, you discover what’s truly needed. You learn what people want, and what you want to give.
It is only your idea of what might happen that holds you back.
You feel your thoughts, so when you entertain scary thoughts, you feel scared.
But if you let them pass, and re-focus on what next tiny step you can take, everything changes.
All the best,
Henri
Ready to Do What You Love?
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I like this phrase “When you take action, you learn, you grow, and you make progress”. That statement is the core of faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase before you make a move, just take the first step and gradually you’ll get to the zenith.
Looking for a brand new idea will only keep you longer than you expect. You don’t need to always reinvent the wheels, pick up and build from where someone else has stopped. No action, No result. Take one step at a time and you’ll record success on a daily basis. Celebrate those little wins you see, for their lies the encouragement to proceed to higher ground.
Just START. How? Anyhow
Thanks henri.
Couldn’t agree with you more 😉
Thanks Henri and Mr Durotimi!
I needed to “hear” that (or read it, actually). I’ve sort of started something – and everyday and every time I sit to start a new blog post, I freeze and think – mannnnn there are so many bloggers out there who are so much better than me, blah blah blah….maybe I should wait til’ I come up with a better idea, better product better this better that….
Anyway, I’ll keep on keeping on!
The real key is to not try to come up with the best idea, best product, or even write the best blog post.
Simply focus on creating a lot, because it is through creating that great ideas naturally spring forth.
Keep on rocking, Shenna!
No one ever changed the world by waiting.
I’m with Ireti-Paul Durotimi. “When you take action, you learn, you grow, and you make progress.”. That’s my favorite line. It sounds so inspiring. That’s going to be the “quote of the day” for my next Toastmaster’s Club meeting. I’ll be sure to give you credit.
This was another inspiring line: “I still have excuses and fears pop up when I expand and learn, but I keep taking action. I keep moving forward one step at a time.” We aren’t perfect. But as long we keep taking action, we get results.
Thanks for the article Henri!
Hi Henri
This is an excellent post. I have read it several times and realized I really need to pull my finger out and stop kidding myself that I know what I am doing. I don’t. I’m sick of going around in circles trying to make sense of all the information I have gathered over the years.
So I have decided to do something NOW about this situation and joined your workshop as soon as your email arrived in my inbox. Yes I have been waiting for it (quite impatiently I might add). Thanks for this opportunity Henri and I will be grabbing it with both hands.
Thanks for another great post. This really motivated me to wake up and get up.
Awesome stuff, Peter. Glad to have you on board 🙂
This is very good inspirational posts for me, you nailed a lot of things that I use to think a lot about in the pasts.
Now I’ve just been building fire to start the momentum instead of waiting for the “perfect moment, or idea” & absorbing as much I can to help me, whether it gives me success, or failures…either way i’m winning from my perspective haha.
Main things is i’m taking action in doing what most important to me.
Anyway thank you for the insightful post Henri (:
so true, often the obstacle in the way is ourself..
Hi, Henri.
As I was reading, I could feel that the beginning of my passion project needs to be born from a desire within my own heart, despite any goals or outcomes that may be lurking beyond that. If it’s not coming from that place, I’m not being honest, true, authentic, or fair to myself OR others…and what kind of beginning is that? Yuk. Feels gross.
Also, the phrase “begin with the end in mind” popped into my head and felt equally wrong for me. Like I know—or would even WANT to know—an endpoint!
You have helped confirm for me that forging my own path is the only way I care to navigate the journey…and that means allowing Life to live through me. Gotta get out of the way for that to happen! That’s been the way to Truth (and half the fun) for me so far. 🙂
Thank you for all you do, Henri!
Great points, Carla. Thank you for commenting 🙂
HI ,Yes,your do right,I’ve been doing it all my life,and I’m 61,Well I’ve got one more thing I want to accomplish,and I’ll just,try,and try till I make some sort of progress.Cheers😀
Hello Henri,
This post came just in time for me. I had contemplated making a video on Intuition for last one year but put it off due to hesitations and same things you have talked about in this post. Finally I did it yesterday, thinking that I will just say what I feel like saying and let it reach to whoever it is meant to reach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwMEDprt6Rg
I really like the fact that you are brutally honest in your posts and videos, you acknowledge if you are struggling with something (which helps other people understand that its not all rosy). Few few have courage to do that. Thank you.
That’s fantastic. I just checked out your video, and it’s great, so keep going, if it resonates with you 🙂
Thanks for this Henri.