You don’t need to be an expert to get started

Sometimes we get caught up in thinking that we have to “know more,” “practice longer”, or “be more prepared” before we can get started.

When we have a desire to begin something new - starting a new job, changing a career path, learning an advanced skill, or hatching an idea - there’s a natural tendency to want to reach a certain threshold of knowledge or experience before fully committing.

But here’s two things to consider:

First, we’re often more prepared and ready to start much sooner than we think.

It's not our lack of knowledge, skill, or ability, that causes us to feel unready.

It’s our fear of committing to something with an unknown outcome that tells us to stay put. It tells us to hang out in a safe place and wait until we’re a little better prepared.

Consider a time when you were hesitant to start something new - but as soon as you jumped in, you got the hang of it much faster than you thought.

That’s because when we put ourselves in a position where we’ve committed, our brain starts to rely on our ability to adapt and adjust.

When we no longer have the safety net that comes with not being all in, and when we no longer hide behind “I’ll start later,” that’s when we begin to learn what we need to make the new thing a success.

We possess the innate ability to adapt - but we can’t realize how strong that ability truly is until we’re forced to rely on it.

Second, remember that there are benefits to being a “novice.”

When you’re a novice, it means you look at things differently than an “expert” would. You bring a fresh eye that’s not influenced by tradition or convention.

When I started my first business, I knew nothing about how to run or grow one.

And even though that initial lack of expertise resulted in challenges, what I “didn’t know” ended up being one of my greatest assets.

My novice status helped me shape my ideas and a way of running my business that was different - something unique, something that was and continues to be true to who I am.

I wasn’t completely influenced by how it was “supposed” to be done, which allowed me to create something new.

Remember that it’s ok to approach starting a new job, career, or business with the mindset of a novice.

It allows you to move forward in a way that aligns with your unique vision.

Try this:

If you’ve been sitting on the sideline waiting for the “perfect time,” or until you get “more experience,” consider what it would be like to just get started.

Just getting started means you commit to taking an action step with the understanding that while you may not be an expert, you possess the innate ability to adapt - and that’s enough to begin.

Every time you take a small action step, you learn something that will give you the perspective you need to take the next action.

You don’t need to be an expert to get started. You just need to commit to starting.

Go have a great workday.