You will never be ready. So just take the first step!

If you think you are not ready, you are in the elite club of over a billion people.

Ask around. Your friends, family, coworkers, and even people on the street have an idea they want to explore. Everyone wants to start a business or a freelance career. Almost all of these people will tell you they will do it next week, next quarter, next year because they are not “ready” yet.

The problem is no one is ever ready. You have to take the first step.

Today is the best day to start..

The best time to start a blog was at least a decade ago, and yet we find thousands of new blogs taking over the world with companies like Medium, Substack, and now even LinkedIn bringing the blogs back.

The best time for YouTube videos was probably five years ago, and yet we find new channels coming along and fining millions of views. Yes, the content has changed, but the concept is still the same.

The pandemic has taught us that our jobs are fragile, and people can work from home.

We now know that freelancers will add the same value to a company as its own employees. We now know that an algorithm can take away 50,000 jobs in a single month. We now know that skill is more important than a degree.

You are more ready than you think. Today is your day to take the first step.

Use the adrenaline rush but also have the discipline

The excitement of taking risks and working hard for your own goals brings in an adrenaline rush. It is the same feeling an athlete gets when he is about to take a 15meter pole jump or a batter who is aiming for a home run. The feeling can be addicting, and once you experience it, you will want more.

The challenge of getting your first client will be motivating enough for you to get out of bed. But realize that there will be days when motivation will take a step outside, and you will still need to be consistent and disciplined enough to show up.

Start with why..

Simon Sinek, in his book, explained the concept of starting with why. The idea is to know why you are doing what you are doing. Knowing why you are running your business or starting a freelance career will give you the discipline to stick to it even if the odds are against you.

Think, Plan & Act..

Make sure you think about the possible outcomes and plan your strategies accordingly. Yes, budgeting is necessary. Yes, looking at competitors and new products and understanding the market is essential. But, you have to act.

Please do not make the mistake that many of us make. Do not go into the rabbit hole of analysis paralysis. As new business owners and freelancers, we tended to make calculations and forecasts and expected revenues and market potential, etc., which sometimes can lead to a paralysis of lack of decision making.

You need to act.

Mistakes are your friend.

You will make mistakes. Period.

This is mathematically improbable that you take your business to the next level without making mistakes. So if we are sure about it, then there is no point in being afraid of them.

Mistakes are your friend. They are essential for learning and growing. You will learn more from your failures than you will ever do from your successes. Okay, I know this is a cliche. But it is true. You can learn about making a Youtube video by watching a Youtube video or from a book or a friend — so many options. But you will still not be able to learn the exact camera angles and camera presence unless you start doing it yourself.

Your first few days will be wrong. The product might not be as per your expectation. Your service will face quality issues. You might have to pay extra money on subscriptions, equipment, or quality control. These will all be small obstacles in your journey.

Be strong for yourself.

You have to be strong for yourself. You are building a small empire for yourself, and that takes effort. You can be overwhelmed, feel the pressure, and be confused. But you have to overcome all of that to be successful.

Always remember your “why.” Your why can be anything. For example, mine is to have more freedom with my time. To achieve more freedom in the future, I am willing to sacrifice my few hours every evening office to build my dream.

Your why could be to express yourself, earn more money, add value to a particular cause.

Be strong.

Baby Steps

Stop thinking about your first steps. Take your steps. They may be baby steps, but at least they will be in the right direction. The only thing that matters is what you will do to make this transition.

To Infiniti and Beyond..

So there you have it! Here are a few tips to help you become a successful freelancer or business owner. Remember, the most important thing is to have discipline and be willing to take small steps forward no matter how insignificant they seem. And finally, don’t forget your “why” — what motivates you to achieve your goals? Knowing this will help keep you going when the going gets tough.

Good luck on your journey!

This is my third article in the series of thirty articles. I am challenging myself to write daily, “30 articles in 30 days”. You can read my first article here.

I’m Armaghan Tanveer, a numbers guy by profession, and a romantic by heart. I write about everything that I find interesting, including productivity, investments, passive income, and personal experiences. If you like what I do, you can buy me a coffee ☕️ here.