The Courage to Begin
Why Taking the First Step is the Hardest—and Most Important
There’s one area that I’d like to grow in more than any others.
It’s not a technical skill.
Nor a soft skill.
But it does represent a fear that keeps most people from succeeding.
Taking the first step.
The Largest Step
Think about the last time you stood at the edge of a new opportunity— a career change, launching a project, or starting a conversation you were nervous about.
That moment right before you acted was exciting and terrifying, right?
It’s something we all face.
As a professional analyst, I’m good at inspecting complexity. I excel at identifying forks in the road and predicting which are most likely to occur. This skill is valuable when guiding large projects and coaching others to make purposeful moves in their careers and leadership journeys.
But the biggest challenge isn’t solving how to move forward.
The most significant step is the first one.
The Power of the First Step
The first step requires intentional courage and immense vulnerability. It’s the step we fear the most because it forces us to leave our comfort zone and step into the unknown. And here's the catch: no one else can take that step for us.
Here’s how you can take action even when that first step feels overwhelming: don’t consider it a massive leap. Break it down into a series of small, intentional actions. Each small step compounds into progress; before you know it, that initial fear has faded into momentum.
And remember: failure isn’t a dead end. It’s just data. Feedback helps you refine your approach and make better decisions moving forward.
It’s the necessary raw material for good analysis. It removes the hypothetical and moves to the practical.
Your Action Today
Take that first step—sending that email, making that call, or simply writing down your plan. Then, reflect on what happens next. What went well? What could be improved? Momentum builds with consistency, and clarity follows action.
Each step forward builds the path to your ultimate vision. The important part is to start because no matter the outcome, you are learning and moving toward success.
Writing this newsletter is a first step. So is recording myself speaking, and joining 100 strangers at 7 a.m. to talk about personal growth. These are some of the first steps that I aim to take.
What about you?
Take your first step today.
And let me know what happens next.