The myth of having it all together
Ever feel like you are not well-equipped to start that project that you have been eyeing for so long? We often wait until we feel like we are ‘ready’ in order to take that leap of faith into unfamiliar waters. Constantly doubting our experiences and expertise and feeling the need to be ‘perfect’ before putting ourselves out there. The thing is, we will never feel confident enough to try that one thing because we think others are doing it better than we would on our first shot. Let’s take for instance, content creation. I have been in this loop of wanting to create more and put myself out there. But I have had this notion that I have to have it all figured out before I do.
Having it all figured out meant, having the best camera, the best editing software, great editing skills and being extremely knowledgeable on a topic before speaking on it. All these are true, but we are forgetting that even the best creators in the game had to start from somewhere and they did not have it all ‘figured out’. The only reason why they seem so good at what they do is because ‘clarity often comes after action’, not before it. That’s when I realized that you don’t have to have it all figured out to start. If I had waited to feel ready, Shisoka’s Way would not exist.
Clarity often comes after action.
The pressure to have it all figured out
With the rise of social media, we have set so many expectations on ourselves because everyone seems like they have it together. Most times, when creators put their content on the internet, they would not put out what was happening behind the scenes. You wouldn’t realize that they struggled to shoot that 30 second video, that they had their initial doubts about it. More often than not, comparison, fear, failure, and perfectionism hold us back.
We compare our day one to someone else’s day 308, of course this looks different because they have been working on it for 308 days straight. We are scared of being perceived by others, we are scared of failing and how that would look on us. But failure has never been written on someone’s forehead in that when you walk around everyone is going to point a finger and be like “Look! They failed at what they started.” Will people talk about it? Sure, they might, but you chose courage and decided to shoot your shot! Not everyone can do that. Then again, what if it all works out? What if you succeed in your endeavours? Have you ever thought of that? It is okay not to know, because that is part of growth.
What starting looks like in real life
The first steps towards beginning something new can look like journaling your ideas. Journaling ensures that you don’t forget the intricate details of your plans. It also helps you structure your ideas better, tracking what you have and what you are yet to obtain. The next step would be learning, this involves doing research on what it is you want to venture in. As much as we want to embark on a journey, we cannot just up and get to it. We need knowledge on the ins and outs of said venture. This does not mean you have to know everything but just the basics because remember, the beauty of this is that we are learning as we go. Finally, with these in mind, consider yourself ready to START.
Remember, progress over perfection. Starting messy still counts because
‘if you wait to start, you’ll start to wait’.
Lessons learnt along the way
Over the years, I have discovered that whenever you build something new, you wouldn’t necessarily get support from everyone and this is okay. You might expect your friends and family to show up for you but they might not be able to or they might just not want to. This should not discourage you because strangers will support you, keep that in mind. Your goal should not be to focus on who is not supporting you but to focus on your craft and those who appreciate it. This should keep you going.
Overtime, taking small steps ultimately builds momentum and the only way you can learn and grow is by doing and never losing that focus.
How to start without having it all figured out
Start small, with the resources that you already have. This is what will set you apart from everyone else. You don’t need to have everything at the beginning because the more you grow then you will be able to access all these other resources.
Stop overplanning, when we over plan there is something that shifts in our brains making it complacent because we might easily be overwhelmed. Embrace every step of being a beginner and focus on consistency at least for the very first 6 months. It is okay to fail along the way because the most important thing is that you decided to trust in yourself and leapt.
The beauty of becoming
Once you’ve taken the first step and embarked on your journey, you realize that things become easier as time go by. This is because the more we do a certain thing the more we become better at it. The best chef did not become great at cooking overnight. No, they practiced for days, weeks, months before they realized which ingredient works for which dish. When you look back from where you started from, you will realize that your work has grown as compared to when you first started.
Bet on yourself and invest your time, energy and money into your craft. One thing I live by is that you will never regret pouring into yourself. There won’t be a day where you will regret believing in yourself and going after everything that you ever dreamt of. So, stop overthinking and overplanning and start now!
Xo, Shisoka.