What a coincidence that at the same time you have so much anxiety, just as things begin, it gradually normalizes. And yes, starting something new can be very scary, but when we cross the wall, we will understand why we do it. We must understand that anxiety and fear will never go away; rather, they are our allies, indicators of risk, and sometimes in life, it is worth taking the risk. The only way to learn why we do it is through the journey itself, which will show us the reasons in due time.

Without further introduction, here are some tips to help you start; they are tips that are working for me and that I am starting to use:

We cannot move forward without direction, just as a ship cannot sail without a course; we would get lost in the dark waters of life. That is why we must have things clear and be able to establish what we are primarily seeking. To help you, you can answer the following questions:

• What is important? (The objective will produce significant changes)
• What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
• What makes you feel fulfilled?
• What is the fundamental purpose?
• What need or problem does it solve?
• How do you envision the project in the future?
• What are the fundamental principles and beliefs that guide your actions?

You can also use the SMART methodology to guide you:

SMART:

• Specific: Define clear and concise objectives that describe exactly what you want to achieve.
• Measurable: Establish concrete criteria to measure your progress and evaluate if you are reaching your goal.
• Achievable: Ensure that your objectives are realistic yet challenging and within your possibilities.
• Relevant: Your objectives must align with your values, interests, and aspirations.
• Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving your objective, creating a sense of urgency and commitment.

Once we know what we want to achieve, planning will be an activity that can be greatly enjoyable, as it can bring out your most creative side. However, it is also important to know how to stay within the framework of what is essential to reach the objectives, following Pareto’s principle. When planning, we will establish the steps that need to be taken or that we will need, as well as identify the obstacles our project will face. Additionally, we must set a deadline for our plans to evaluate them later and see what we can improve. For example, if we want to study something new, we must have a clear study plan; if none exists, you must create one and identify which subtopics are indispensable, which are difficult, and which are less relevant. This way, you can be efficient in your planning.

Kaizen is a Japanese methodology that focuses on constant change and continuous improvement. The idea behind this philosophy is to achieve significant long-term changes with continuous small actions. Given that these processes are always being updated, the results are often surprising. So, how to use it to start something? Try to break down your project into small steps. If you are making videos for YouTube, progress with your script day by day and divide the editing into parts. You will see how easy it is for our brain to make those decisions.

I wrote it before, and I will write it again: you must set a date for your projects; otherwise, they will remain on an infinite waiting list, and I assure you it will be difficult to dust them off. So, set a date and place.

This is new, even for me. I recently implemented a motivation system based on positive reinforcement, essentially a way to hack my brain, as psychologist Skinner did in his rat experiments. Every day, I have a specific number of tasks that I must complete; each task earns a point, and there are other activities not as relevant to my objectives that also earn points. The truly interesting part happens when the things that bring me the most pleasure—like playing video games or having a good coffee—are now exchangeable for these points. So now I have to complete all my daily activities; otherwise, I can’t enjoy those pleasures. I know it might seem quite radical and painful, but hey, it’s the reason I started this blog, the reason I started my YouTube channel after five years. For me, it’s a gem.

This goes hand in hand with the previous point, and if you notice, none of the points on this list are separate, as each one fulfills a fundamental function in this system, or at least that’s how I want to see it. When you define objectives and plan goals, it is always at the expense of something, and I recommend it be at the expense of those bad habits you have, those things that bring no benefit to your life, that only waste your valuable time. Those that come disguised as instant pleasure and may seem tempting at first glance but are ultimately a deadly trap, always sabotaging plans. So, get rid of them little by little, step by step, slowly as the Kaizen method suggests.

If you found things you might need in your planning, you can write them down on a separate list to know what you need to get and to give you an idea of how much you will spend or how you will obtain them.

It may sound very philosophical and irrelevant at first, but truly finding why we do what we do can be the difference between the success or failure of your business. It is the core of what we do, the matrix of the project, its center; everything revolves around this. That is why it is crucial to find it. I know it’s not an easy task; I know there are people who will never find it in their lifetime; it’s something that gradually becomes clearer. And this shouldn’t be a reason to stop and remain inactive, as it did with me for many years; it is something the journey itself will reveal to us, and in the meantime, we can keep doing. Through the journey, we will discover ourselves little by little.

I know that setting new goals can be overwhelming, keeping us up at night, and causing high levels of anxiety. But I’m here to tell you that we must try, we must strive, we must take risks now, and not leave ourselves with regret. In the end, we only have one life, and everyone does what they wish with their time.

Cheer up and good luck starting your project!

Best wishes, your friend SupShine!