Start and the Path Will Appear
Jul 25, 2025
Have you ever wondered where to begin?
Maybe you had a looming project. Maybe you had an important goal. Or maybe you had a pressing deadline and you hadn’t even started yet.
I had a client who was afraid to take an important step because they didn’t want to “waste time doing the wrong things.”
And that makes sense.
No one likes to feel like they are wasting time or going down the wrong path. But as they shared all the things they were trying to avoid, something was nagging me.
I then asked, “Well, as you have been waiting to decide on the right first step, how long have you been putting off getting started?”
They paused and admitted, “Several weeks.”
And there it was.
I then gently asked, “As you consider both options: starting without a clear direction or waiting for direction before you start… so far…which has taken more time?”
“Waiting to start.” They admitted.
They saw the point too.
We then brainstormed several simple steps they could do to begin, and then talked about how they could recalibrate as they progressed.
After a few days they called me amazed at how quickly they found the right path once they got started. True, it took a day or two to find the right direction, but in retrospect which strategy cost more time?
Delaying starting until the vision was 100% certain? Several weeks.
Taking action and then adjusting as they went along? Two days.
What does this have to do with influence and success?
On my desk I have a custom mousepad that I designed to have important quotes.
One of them is: “We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”
When we are trying to begin something, I’ll admit, waiting is A LOT easier than starting. And in some cases waiting for more info can be a good thing.
But the truth is, waiting… is a clear path to a lesser goal.
However taking decisive action is where the real progress can be found. Even if the action may be in the completely wrong direction at first.
Your ability to change direction is just as valuable as your ability to move forward.
However when we think about the future, we often undervalue the chances we have to change direction. We imagine that we WON’T have the chance to change
And so we tend to wait, delay, procrastinate, put it off… until we feel the time is right.
And like my client, we often waste weeks when it could have taken only days.
So- how can you start the “thing” … today?
What simple steps will give you the most information?
And how will you give yourself the grace to change… when that moment inevitably comes?
“We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”
Don’t let your fear of making a change in the future be an obstacle in your path to success.
Because changing directions quickly and decisively is the true path forward.
Christian
CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the 2X #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com
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