I recently took out Guy Kawasaki's The Art of the Start from the library.
No, I don't want to be an entrepreneur (never say never, though), but the subtitle to the book is "The Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything."
Most days, I am a staunch self-help/advice book cynic and pretty much equate the things with snake oil, but Kawasaki was motivating.
I digress. This is not a book review. I just wanted to get 2016 started off right.
I'm not one to make new year resolutions, but 2010-2014 was a tough period for me on many fronts, so this time last year I made a "15 for 2015" resolutions list to turn things around. I won't bore you with all of them, but I'm chuffed about the ones I've stuck to:
- I climbed back onto the exercise wagon & can be found grunting regularly at the gym
- I got back to my love of cooking, & make & eat full meals (rather than stuff crackers & cheese into my face)
- I dyed my hair platinum blonde (change ya hair, change ya life!)
- In an attempt to spend less time online, I *gasp* deleted my Facebook account
Top of my list, though, was making the move down a new job path toward copywriting. Away from the monotony of editing & proofreading, & onward to creativity & collaboration.
That meant networking (PS: I'd rather gnaw my own arm off) & buckling down to create a portfolio, all on top of working full-time as it was, & all of which I have done (though, networking & portfolio tweaking are ongoing)!
Self-doubt crept in eleventy-million times a day, but came a point I just couldn't take any more thinking & I had to start doing.
Now in January of 2016, I'm seven months into a full-time copywriting position. And I've allowed myself to sit back & say, "Yeah, b****, I did that." Engine fueled, I've made some new resolutions, & though I'm only two weeks into the new year, I'm feeling confident & on track.
While I love to challenge myself & get uncomfortable, I'm a dreamer & an over-thinker, with a nasty lazy streak. If I can let go of old habits & develop new ones, you can.
And so I shall leave you with this Kawasaki-ism:
"The hardest thing about getting started is getting started. Remember: No one ever achieved success by planning for gold."
Truth.
Here's to starting.