When we’re afraid of getting it wrong, we often don’t try at all.

We assume there is a direct path to success, so we end up wasting hours, days, weeks, months, and years trying to figure it out before we even begin.

We assume our gurus did not struggle with any of this (usually because their struggle is hidden from plain sight). We assume they did not have to make it up as they went. So, we have an excuse not to make it up as we go either.

Maybe your gurus never made a mistake. Maybe. But the more likely possibility is they made more mistakes faster, learned from them, and adjusted their strategy as required. They figured out the many ways something would not work. But because they were committed to figuring out how it could work, failure was never an option, and the struggles were written off as temporary setbacks and learning experiences – even if they were horrid.

Taking the next step can be downright scary. But what’s the worst-case scenario? Assuming you’re taking calculated risks and not outrageously stupid ones, the worst possible outcome is you learn something from the experience.

You can’t wait for perfect timing or permission to make a mess. You’ve got to start making a mess now. It may be your only pathway to figuring it out.

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