Week One: Just Start Already

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Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

I’ve had a few bumps waking my brain up in week one of self-employment (it’s only been three days and I’m writing about it), but my muscle memory is coming back. Have you ever been on a break from exercise and started up again, only to feel complete panic and almost awe at how rusty you are? As a runner, I remember heading outside to go on a “real run” after a hiatus and realizing, for various reasons I won’t describe, there were places on my body that did not feel right. It was like I was wearing a backpack on my whole body I didn’t know was there, and my knees and hips creaked like a door in a horror movie. But, after a few blocks of plodding along and shaking things out, my body remembered what to do, joints were smoother and I started to feel joy in moving again.

The Hardest Step Is The First One, And Other Motivational Quotes

“The hardest step for a runner is the first one out the door.” This is my favorite running quote, and it fits well with getting back into the swing of things this week. I’ve been powered down for almost a year. I’ve restarted with some program updates, and the cursor is blinking on my screen waiting to go.

Nike says, “Just Do It.”

I think of it more as, “Just Start.”

You’re not going to know everything, but just start.

You won’t get it all right the first time, but just start.

It won’t be like before, but just start.

It might be messy, but just start.

It’s one thing to go out and get back to doing what you already know how to do. It’s another to start something new, the first step to somewhere you’ve never been without the team you’re used to having. I’ve coined a new motivational quote this week: “The hardest step for a person who sat next to the IT department for years is having to set up her own laptop.” I joyfully sat next to the IT department for many years, made some great friends and maybe got a bit lazy. There were many times they didn’t teach me to fish but just gave me fish whenever I needed it. I’ve added “become a master angler in IT” to this year’s goals. Meanwhile, I found some go-to resources, and I’ll build an emergency beer supply for my IT friends who kindly answer my texts.

Fast Fails and Messy Shots

“MVP” used to only mean “most valuable player.” In today’s digital world, “MVP” is also “minimal viable product.” The structure for bells and whistles and design near-perfection exists in an MVP, but these features will be added in the future. The key is, you guessed it, to make it good enough to get started. Build the playing field, and then play! I know the IT people reading this are screaming, “Agile! It’s called agile!”

You can always refine what you have if the structure and basics are there, but you won’t get to do those things if you don’t start. Get the ball rolling, take the step out the door. Get some feedback and test your ideas. Be open to failure and revisions, just do it quickly so you can get to great sooner. Maybe the real MVP of making it happen is the MVP!

Just Did It

So, I started working again. I did it! If you need some time to update your program, go for it. There will never be a perfect time, a perfect situation to get started. During the pandemic, we have adapted to function more comfortably in chaos and uncertainty. So, what are you waiting for? Just start! Let’s feel how good it feels to get moving again.