Achieve More

The First Step should be the easiest.

But, that’s often the problem. The first step is the hardest.

Before people start, they wait for:

1. A Perfect Plan
2. Enough Money
3. The Right Timing
4. More Confidence
5. Approval From Others
6. A Sign or Special Event
7. The Right Equipment or Tools
8. Perfect Health or Physical Condition

The bottom line is these are all bullshit reasons.

The Plan

In his book Ultralearning, Scott Young talks about the importance of not overplanning:

1. Start with a Plan: Have a clear goal and a plan to reach it
2. Don’t Overplan: If you spend too much time on the plan you delay action and it will become an excuse not to start
3. Balance: Find a balance between the Plan and the Action. Plan enough to guide your efforts but not so much you don’t start

The First Step

Don’t overthink it.

Make the first step as simple as you can – here’s how:

• Habits
• Start Small
• The 2-Minute Rule

Habits

When you focus on the destination, you fail.

You’ll succeed when you focus on the habits that lead to the destination.

If you run every single day, you’ll run a marathon.

If you read for 30 minutes every single day, you’ll read 30+ books per year.

In his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey illustrates a habit known as Begin With the End in Mind:

1. Idea: Think about your goals before you start and know what you want to achieve
2. Vision: Have a clear picture of what success looks like to guide your actions
3. Values: Understand what’s important to you and let your values guide you
4. Plan: Make a plan that leads to your goal. Break it into Steps
5. Action: Start working towards your goal. Follow your plan
6. Adjust: Be ready to change your plan if needed

Whether it’s Stephen Covey, Scott Young or even Ray Dalio, they all offer very similar steps and I’ve been using my simplified version of this for the past 15 years successfully:

1. Know what you want (Vision)
2. Understand what it takes (Plan)
3. Do the work Day in. Day out (Act)

Start Small

Too often, you think you need to start too BIG and:

• Don’t start
• Crash and burn

Instead, start as small as possible.

Start small and stack the simple wins out of the gate.

These wins will compound and build your Get Sh!t Done Muscle.

The 2-Minute Rule

The 2-minute rule says when you want to start a new habit, you only need to do it for two minutes.

• Read a book = Read one page
• Workout = Step foot into the gym
• Run a marathon = get your running shoes on

When you’re done with the two minutes, you decide whether you’ll keep going or stop.

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Live Better

This week on the Growth Guide Podcast we talked to Nick Huber, a serial entrepreneur, investor and content creator focused on real estate and small businesses.

Nick shares his journey from mowing lawns as a 13-year-old to starting a student storage company, building a multi-million dollar self-storage company and business empire.

Nick provides insights on:

• Delegation
• Getting Started
• Hated and Loved Businesses
• Challenges of Entrepreneurship
• Why You Need to Outsource Talent
• Empowering Your Team to Solve Problems

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A Thought

For 32 years, I only got sh!t done in my head.

When I started to focus on the End in Mind, I was able to change my life.

A Question

Where do you need to take the first step in your life?

Where are you waiting to take the first steps for the wrong reasons?

Get started.

Etc.

This week, I had the pleasure to join Charlie Hubbard, a high school student, on his Podcast.

I love to support students who are trying to create their life.

You can join our conversation here.

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