Walt Hampton, J.D.

Creating the Work & Life You LOVE

This Time It Should Be Different
June 7, 2012

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. 

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

It’s not fair.

It should be different. It should be easier.

This time, it shouldn’t seem so overwhelming.

But it does.

We’ve started our ultra-training for the season. Ann will run the Vermont 50 in September. I’ll run the Green Lakes 100K.

And even though we’ve run big distances before, even though we’re not starting from ground zero, it all seems so daunting, so unimaginably unpleasant.

Of course it’s easy to talk the game. When I speak to groups about success and goal achievement, I raise the question as to how one might go about eating an elephant.

One bite at a time, most folks will agree.

And so it is with distance races, high mountain peaks, writing books, and building businesses. One step. And then another.

Small consistent steps over time; magnificent results.

Easy to say.

Harder to do.

Especially that first step part.

It is the getting going, the starting out  that is the problem, isn’t it?  You’d think that if you’d started out before, if you’d run the race, climbed the hill, written the book, had the banner year; if you’d gone to the gym, eaten right, watched your weight; if you’d landed the client, closed the deal, impressed the board; why should you have to do it all again?

Shouldn’t you get some bonus points, a head start, credit for time served?

Unfortunately not.

No one gets a pass.

Inertia is a universal (and unfortunate) law. An object at rest remains at rest and all that. However many times you’ve started out before, you’ve got to start again.

No matter who you are, no matter what your experience, no matter what the project, no matter who you’re comparing yourself to, know this: We all start out in the very same place. At the beginning.

So just do it; just take the first step.

There is magic in that.

 

 

4 Comments

  1. Steve Gamlin

    Great message Walt! Too many people think of the WHOLE staircase and are paralyzed with fear and doubt.

    I tell my audiences: “As the Greek god Nike said: Just Do It!”

    I’ve got a couple new staircases facing me. I will start steppin’ up too!

    Reply
    • Walt

      Ah yes, the greatest of the Greek gods! Love it! It’s always such fun to share the concept with our audiences. And it’s absolutely true. And then we come around the corner ourselves… and there’s the new staircase… .

      Reply
  2. Toni

    I love Thursday mornings! Each week’s message is always relevant and this week no exception. Whether you are an adult in the world or a 15 year struggling through high school –
    THANK YOU!!!

    Reply
    • Walt

      Toni, thank you for your kind words. Every Thursday (and every day!), a new staircase. Hope today’s is a good one. Walt

      Reply

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