I am not going to sugar coat it, starting something new can be a little bit scary and make you nervous. It’s something you’ve never done before, you’re not really sure what lies ahead…I get it, it’s brand new!
There’s not a single person around the world right now that has not been effected by COVID-19 (and that’s NOT what this post is about) But raise your hand if you’ve used this time to say “I’ve always wanted this, and now is the time to go after it.” This might be a new health & fitness plan that actually sticks, a new way to make money, a new podcast, a new blog, or anything that you want to commit to for the long haul, but maybe never had the time, drive, or know-how to get started and sustain it.
From moving abroad 6 years ago, to starting my own online fitness & lifestyle transformation coaching brand to my podcast I launched just a couple months ago, I am no stranger to starting something new
Here are 8 things to really consider when starting something new
1. What’s My Why?
Why do you want to take this journey? This is your motivation for starting something new and will be your roots. And your tree can only grow as high as your roots are deep. Defining YOUR WHY most definitely needs to be the first step when embarking on any new journey or goal.
In my Mind Body Love 6-Week Starter Kit for Lifestyle Change we start at this very point to find YOUR unique, emotionally compelling WHY. Soooo many people come to me telling me “I don’t know my WHY” “I don’t know where to start or what truly motivates me.” All good, we will do MANY things to help you process and bring it to life in a way that works and makes sense for you. It’s SO much fun & the magic sauce to getting TRUE transformation that you’ll never have to start over from again!
2. Is Your Why Compelling Enough?
We’re all motivated in different ways. Your why should be compelling enough to continue bringing you back to your new dream, even when life throws you curveballs. Your why is bigger than anything you’re feeling in moments of uncertainty and stress.
Sit with your why for a while to make sure this is truly your motivation. I sat with my why for two weeks of meditation before I finally realized this is what I wanted.
3. Are You Willing to Be Consistent After Starting Something New?
Success is built through consistent efforts. You must be able to show up every day, week, month, and year to make visible progress and reach your major milestones. During a session with one of my VIP coaching clients a couple weeks ago, we were discussing her interest in starting a blog. And the first thing I asked her was: how much do you love to write?
It’s hard to be honest with yourself sometimes. But not doing so would be a disservice to yourself and the people you’re trying to add value to.
4. What Steps Do I Need to Take to Reach My Goal?
You never stop learning. Whatever your goal, there are likely things that you don’t yet know that you’ll need to do to launch your goal. AND there will be things you don’t know you need to know (ha!). But list out the things you know you’ll need to learn, get familiar with and master and get after it.
For example, when I started my podcast, I had to figure out a title, choose my platform, learn to edit audio and artwork, and a whole bunch of other things. List them out so they are laid out in front of you, then start tackling them one by one.
5. What Can I Learn From Others Who are Doing What I’m Doing?
Google is pretty powerful in helping you find other people who are doing exactly what you want to do. Go check them out and learn from their mistakes. You’ll still make plenty of your own, but you may be able to shorten your learning curve.
6. Be Real with Starting from the Bottom
When we’re starting something new, we’re essentially starting from scratch. It takes time to build trust, your reputation, and your audience. It’s a process, and you need to be okay that success isn’t going to happen overnight. But if you can be consistent, you won’t stay at the bottom forever.
7. Understand Things Won’t Be Easier, But You’ll Get Better
Something I’ve learned that growth comes with greater challenges, especially things you never saw coming. But with experience, you’ll get better at dealing with these challenges. Look back at your past obstacles that you’ve overcome and take pride in knowing you can handle future issues, too.
8. Serve with Excellence Over Perfection
When you’re starting something new, don’t wait for everything to be perfect. You’re going to be waiting longer than you realize. Instead, focus your passion on serving with excellence. If you want to do great things, your audience will value your action over inaction.
