Last week I grabbed a beer with my good buddy Brett and shortly after went to Jon Acuff’s book-launch-palooza (which, by the way, remind me that when I publish my first book, to rent out a classy old movie theatre and have a big party with 250 of my friends).
As the night came to a close and I drove home, one message swirled through my head from the conversations I’d had that night. The message was this:
Ready is a myth.
Being “ready” to take a bold leap – to try something new – to challenge yourself – is a myth. If you’re expecting it to all come together, if you’re hoping for the road to be paved for you, if you keep waiting to be ready, you’ll be waiting a long, long time.
You don’t need permission to start. You control the starting line. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You’ll figure it out along the way. You’re as ready right now as you’ll ever be to get started on pursuing whatever it is you want to be doing.
Hustle is hard work. Good timing takes courage. But there’s no better time than now. You’re ready.
I empower visionaries and hustlers to do the work they want to do and live the life they want to live. A self-made entrepreneur, brand-expert, writer, speaker, thinker, creator, doer, and Saved by the Bell aficionado, I examine life through a "less restricted" lens and frequently get nostalgic about the 90's. 
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Sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you, Matt! That is one of my favorite lines as well. We will always tell ourselves we’re not ready, when we usually have to take the first step to get any momentum going. Great reminder!
Yes! Sorry we didn’t get to meet. This idea really resonated and it’s all about taking the first step! Cheers!
I was at Jon’s book launch too. I would have introduced myself if I knew you would be there. I totally agree that the starting line is all we have under our control and we need to start no matter what. Great message Matt!
Sorry we didn’t catch each other, Jeff! The starting line is ALL we can control. The finish is unknown but we’re always in control of getting started.
Austin Kleon says in “Steal Like An Artist” – “Don’t wait until you know who are you to get started.” Another great take on “ready is a myth.”
Thanks for another great post Matt!
Love it, Annie. Cheers!
Way cool. I think of all of the excuses Ive made over a lifetime to not do something I really wanted to do because it was not the “right time.” Of course, there is never really a “right time” if you focus on the reasons why you shouldn’t or can’t do a thing. The trick is to make it the “right time,” or as you say. “to control the starting line.
Very insightful. Nice post.
Chris
About 10 years ago I owned a jacket which had the writing: “No Waiting”. I was so excited about this phrase so much that my definition of it was to avoid and reduce waste and procrastination . I was always on the move. I always want for what I wanted, persisted, inspite of what hurdles, to get there. My friends and folks called me hustler. If I must confess, this was the secret of my success at acquiring higher education, established family, a better job, etc.
NO WAITING. GET GOING. And Bible said,” Seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be open”
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