Don’t Wait for Perfect: Begin Now There’s a line by Alan Cohen that hits hard:

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “If only things lined up just right, then I’d start”? We all do it. Waiting for perfect timing, perfect weather, perfect confidence. But here’s an idea that flips that thinking, courtesy of Alan Cohen: “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” Let’s unpack that. We obsess over beginnings, picturing how scary, messy, or awkward they might be. Our brains spin out endless “what-if” scenarios: What if it doesn’t work? What if I look foolish? How will it all turn out? The fear of the unknown can make starting feel like leaping off a cliff. So instead, we delay. We overthink, hoping that a lightning bolt of clarity or courage will strike us. Spoiler: It rarely does. The truth is, action begets clarity. Only when yo u start do things fall into place. You can read all the books, attend all the seminars, brainstorm endlessly. But nothing gets real until you take that first, imperfect step. Think about all those moments at work or in your personal life where you held back—like staying silent in a meeting, even though you had a point to make. You walk out replaying it in your mind, wishing you just spoke up. Or maybe you keep meaning to launch that side project, write that article, or reach out to someone important. You tell yourself, “Next time,” or “Someday.” But someday never arrives on its own. Here’s the magic: It’s the act of beginning that sets things in motion and creates the conditions you’ve been waiting for. That first awkward step may feel small, but it’s often the only way to truly move closer to your goals. The more you act, the more confident and competent you become. Each attempt gives you feedback. You learn, adjust, and grow. Progress doesn’t come from standing still; it’s born from movement. So, don’t wait for perfect. Embrace the mess. Show up, say the thing, send the email, launch the project. Perfection is a moving target anyway, and you don’t need it to get started. Make today your beginning. Trust the process. Because it’s not the circumstances that have to change—it’s you, taking action, that changes everything. Your future self will high-five you for it!