Everyone Has a Day One

Happy Friday Friends,

I have a friend who has recently started his fitness and health journey. He’s Hired a coach to keep him on track, he's working out and improving his eating. I asked him to join me for a workout one morning, and he responded, “Maybe in a few years mate. I can’t even do a pull-up, let alone what you do.”

I laughed and told him that many years ago I also couldn’t do one pull-up. I told him if it’s something he wants to do, he just has to start. We all have to start somewhere. Everyone has their day one.

This got me thinking.Everyone has a day one.Every single person, no matter where they are now had to start at day one.Every person that is an expert at what they do has to start somewhere and from a place of uncertainty. From the best sportsperson in the world to the most-watched Youtube personality. They had a starting point and at that point, they were average.

This puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? For me, it’s also motivating!It means that you could do anything you like if you just get over the fear of starting.

Whether it's a professional athlete, a renowned physicist, or someone pursuing their passion, everyone begins as a novice. The journey of growth and achievement starts by taking that first step, and while it can be daunting, the rewards are immeasurable.

Getting started is the hardest part of doing anything. If you’re overweight and you want to get healthier, the hardest part is getting to the gym on the first day. Hell, simply going for a 10-minute walk every day after lunch can seem impossible until you begin. It can be daunting and anxiety-inducing. But, as I've said before often the fear of starting is way worse than the act of doing it.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

We’ve all stood on the side of the pool. Staring into the clear blueness that is so inviting yet also paralysing. We know it’ll all be good once we jump in. We know the shock of cold will be short-lived. But, we still stand, hesitate, and take deep breaths.

And, delay.

The hardest part is mustering the courage to take that leap. Similarly, starting anything new, be it a fitness journey or a simple daily routine change, can feel overwhelming. For now, it's only one step.

No One Cares!

An obstacle we all face when taking the initial leap is the voice inside our heads asking “What will people think?” In my head this isn’t a voice, it’s many voices and they’re screaming at me.If you’re busy worrying about everyone else’s opinions, the odds are they’re also worrying about everyone else to focus on what you’re doing.The very real reality is that no one cares. They are too busy worrying about their own shit.

You are Your Worst Enemy

The only person stopping you from taking action is you. Your inner voice is often louder than any external voice. It’ll ask you “But what if…” every single step of the way. "What ifs" usually have a positive and negative side. You will always start with the negative what if first. So the simple answer is to reply with a positive what if.Q: “What if it doesn’t work and you fail?”A: “Well, what if it does work and in the end I win?”Become your own biggest fan!

"The greatest teacher, failure is." - Yoda

We are all petrified of failure. From the earliest age, we don’t want to fail because it is so closely coupled with disappointment. We don’t want to disappoint our parents, siblings, teachers, bosses - the list goes on.

What we’re not taught early enough is that failing is so vital to success. If, as babies, we didn’t keep getting up after the initial face plant we would never end up walking. We should be taught how to review and evaluate failure to help us improve. We would then embrace failure as our biggest teacher.You’re going to belly flop, you’re going to get lost and you’re going to lose money. But I’m here to remind you that it’s ok. Keep failing!

Consistency & Compounding

Continual self-improvement is a pursuit I hold dear. As long as I am even 1% better today than I was yesterday, I am heading in the right direction. Consistency over the years compounds our progress exponentially. It is said that we often underestimate what we can achieve in a decade. If you want to start something and improve on it consider this simple 60/90 principle.

Dedicate 60 minutes per day for 90 days to work on something you wish to achieve. Witness the transformative power of consistent effort and focused attention.

Don’t Give up too Soon

So often we’ve taken the first steps but then we stop right before the final hurdle. I’m sure you’ve all seen the cartoon below.

For me, the key to avoiding this is to know your goals but not to focus on them. Do the basics and achieve the small milestones along the way. Celebrate those small wins because they’ll keep you going through the tough times.99% of people will get bored or despondent and give up. Be the 1% who keeps pushing through. You’re very likely almost there.

You Don’t Have to be Perfect

Your process doesn’t have to be perfect.You don’t need all the perfect tools.You don’t have to have the perfect running shoes.You don’t need the perfect calorie-counting app.You don’t need perfection, or even close to it to get where you want to go. Those things are all distractions and procrastination. Simply start with the easiest version. You also don’t need to be the best or a professional at anything to be good and benefit from it. As I mentioned above, compete with yourself and try and be better today than you were yesterday. That is all you need.

Remember that every journey, no matter how remarkable, begins with a day one. Overcoming the fear of starting is the key to unlocking a world of possibilities. Embrace each step of the learning process, celebrate incremental progress, and cherish the growth that arises from persistence. Today, make the choice to embrace your day one and embark on a quest of self-discovery and mastery.

Peace, love and muscles.

Jazza

Sharing a shot from my camera roll