Taking the First Step

“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step” was first said by Lao Tzu around the 6th Century BCE. This is a well-known adage that I often see practiced, but also not done. I know many high-achieving people who eagerly take the first steps to start a new venture, but I also know too many others who have great ideas but never seem to take that first step.

The high achievers move forward once they have an idea, a goal and a plan to lead them along with what they decide to do. They also have some false starts or non-successes, and when that becomes evident, they cut their losses and move on to their next project. And they repeat this process until they attain the degree of success they expected. They always take the first step and keep taking it until they get to where they want to go, or where those steps take them. One reason for their eventual success is that they are not afraid of failing; they quickly cut their losses and then move on.

The non-starters never seem to get started. Many of them feel overwhelmed by the perceived enormity of the undertaking, a fear of failure or afraid of embarking on a new road. They never take that first step.

I know one thing for sure. Starting with a new project is a risk with no assurance of success. But not doing anything new is also a risk. The risk is not of failure but of stagnation or no or little growth. There is nothing wrong with staying where you are if that is what you want, and I know many people like that, and they are happy with their decisions to maintain rather than grow their business.

However, if staying where you are is not what you want, then you need to move forward, and that means coming up with an idea, a goal, a plan and then taking that first step.

A journey of a thousand miles does start with a single step, but it needs that first step to be taken.