How to Start Anything in 3 Steps (Even When Terrified)
Today, I'm giving it straight to you. No fuzz, no big hook, because we all know "ain't nobody got time for that." So here it comes:
Starting is the hardest part. Period.
Let me invite you into my brain for a minute. This is the mental chaos that used to happen to me when I tried to start something new.
Scenario 1:
I see this absolutely SICK video with some fancy animation elements. My brain explodes with inspiration. "I could totally make something like this but with my own style!"
But wait... I'm not 100% sure how they technically pulled off those animations. Better watch a few tutorials first. One tutorial leads to another. The first day vanishes. Then a week disappears. I've now watched EVERY SINGLE VIDEO on planet Earth about animating text, stylised objects, and likely how to animate my way to Mars.
Did I actually start editing my own video?
Of course not! I'm still "learning."
Scenario 2:
I've been thinking about taking dance classes. Real dancing, with actual instruction. Dancing has always felt natural to me, so why not level up and learn proper technique? The idea grows. Maybe I'll even document the journey and share it with you guys. Everything's great until my brain throws this mental grenade:
"Wait a minute... what if those old friends from my hometown who follow me on Instagram see this? WHAT IF THEY REALIZE I'M A BEGINNER?!"
...and there goes my motivation, right out the window.
You see what happened? I didn't start dancing because of some hypothetical judgment from people I haven't talked to in YEARS. That's absolute insanity! It has nothing to do with dancing itself.
This pattern shows up EVERYWHERE in life. And the problem isn't lack of desire, knowledge, or resources. It's that starting is psychologically terrifying.
But here's the thing: You can't iterate on something that doesn't exist.
That beautifully articulated thought comes from Dan Koe, and it resonated with me deeply. It's become one of the most important realizations in my journey from being a chronic "someday" person to someone who actually gets to work.
Do you know the number one reason people struggle to begin? It's not laziness. It's not even fear of failure (well, not exactly). It's what I call the Paradox of Progress: You fear looking incompetent now, so you never develop the competence you want.
Let's break this cycle. Today I'm going to show you a 3-step process I've used to start most of my projects, from this newsletter to the videos I edit in my 9-5 to starting my own business, even when I was completely terrified or clueless.
The Paradox of Progress: Why You're Sabotaging Your Own Growth
Let's address something that most people never talk about: Starting things usually feels AWFUL.
When you're faced with an empty page, timeline or document, your mind does something cruel. It immediately compares your current zero-state with the idealized end result you're imagining. The gap looks so huge that your brain basically panics and freezes up.
It's kind of funny that, as a professional video editor, I still find an empty timeline more intimidating than a complex project that's already underway.
That's because when you haven't started, your brain has nothing tangible to work with, just this void of endless possibilities.
I see this constantly among my family and friends. They 'll tell me they want to learn how to prompt for AI, start a YouTube channel, or start working out. But when I ask them what they've actually TRIED so far, they hit me with all these detailed reasons about how they're "still figuring out the best approach" or "just need to learn a bit more first."
This is called active procrastination, doing nothing while waiting for the perfect path to appear. It feels productive because your mind is busy, but it's actually the most dangerous form of resistance.
Remember that story about not starting dance classes?
I was so afraid of looking like a beginner on social media that I never even took the first step.
The irony? If I had started back then, I'd probably be the next Bruno Mars by now. Instead, the gap between where I am and where I want to be has only gotten wider. And this is exactly what happens with any project you're afraid to start.
Here's a shocking truth: Those hypothetical haters in your head?
They don't exist.
Nobody cares that your first attempt isn 't perfect. In fact, nobody's even paying attention to your beginning, they're all too worried about their own struggles.
But there's even deeper psychology at work: Most people fear committing to ANYTHING because they fear choosing the wrong path. What if I invest in Bitcoin when Xiaomi stocks would give me better returns? What if I focus on Instagram when TikTok, X or LinkedIn would be better? What if I start a business in industry X when Y has more potential?
The result? You choose NOTHING. And nothing, as it turns out, produces exactly zero results.
The 3-Step Empty Timeline Solution
Want to know the most valuable lesson I've learned about starting?
Real-world experience beats theoretical planning every single time.
You can think about posting on Instagram for 2 years, or you can make 10 terrible videos and post them in a month. Guess which approach actually moves you forward? Those 10 awkward reels will teach you more than 5 years of imagining the perfect aesthetic ever could.
So here's my process for turning paralyzing fear into forward motion, I call it Dustin's Empty Timeline Solution. (And yes, I suggest you give this process your very own name so it sticks better in your brain. Just use this formula: [Your Name] + [The Thing You Usually Struggle With Most] + Solution. See? Now you're already starting something!)
Step 1: Define the Overall Goal & Make It Ridiculously Small
When most people try to start something, they immediately go big. "I'm going to journal every day!" "I'm launching a business!" "I'm going to workout every day!"
STOP IT.
These aren't starts, they're massive end goals that your brain correctly identifies as terrifying.
Instead, define the overall goal (daily journaling, business, fitness routine), but then make your first action so embarrassingly small that you literally can't say no.
For example:
Want to journal daily? Your starter action is writing a single sentence. Not a page. Not an outline. ONE. SENTENCE.
Want to start a business? Day one is brainstorming three possible names on a sticky note. That's it.
Want to establish a workout habit? Your first session is one push-up.
I'm dead serious about this. When I start out on a big video project, my first step isn't "create an amazing video." It is "break down the whole timeline into small sections." That's it. Just blocks with the named sections. I call this small but crucial step the Cugunovs’sch Process, named after a good friend of mine who taught it to me—and probably didn’t realize how much it would change the way I approach getting started.
Why does this work? Because it bypasses your brain's threat detection system. Your brain can't find a valid excuse to avoid writing ONE sentence or doing ONE push-up. It's too easy to fail at.
This approach sounds ridiculous until you actually try it. Then you realize: Oh wait, I just STARTED the thing I've been avoiding for months. And once you've started, continuing becomes infinitely easier.
If you want to dig deeper into this step, I recommend James Clear's "Atomic Habits."
Step 2: Commit And You Will Win Either Way
Here's where most people get stuck:
They're waiting for certainty before they commit. They want a guarantee that the path they're starting on is THE right path.
Let me save you years of headaches: That guarantee doesn't exist. Never has, never will. Instead, adopt the "Win Either Way" mindset. It works like this:
When you start something, there are only two possible outcomes:
You discover you're on the right path (win!)
You discover this ISN'T the right path (also win! Now you know!)
Most people think they have to know exactly what they want to do in life on the first try.
What an insane expectation!
How would you possibly know if you'll enjoy programming/video editing/writing/whatever until you've actually DONE it? The goal of starting isn't to be immediately great. It's to generate data about what works, what doesn't, and what you actually enjoy.
When I committed to making videos, I had no idea if I'd be any good at it. But I decided that either:
I'd discover I had a talent for it (win!)
Or I'd discover it wasn't for me, freeing me to try something else (also win!)
This mindset makes commitment far less scary. You're not committing to being great. You're just committing to finding out.
Step 3: Create Momentum Through Small Victories
Once you've taken that ridiculously small first step, your job is simple: chain together small victories until momentum kicks in.
This is where the magic happens. See, motivation doesn't create action, action creates motivation.
Let me repeat that because it's worth tattooing on your forehead: Action creates motivation, not the other way around.
When I'm editing videos, I break the process into tiny, satisfying chunks:
Get the structure right.
Trim down the story (usually the spoken words)
Add music
Paint with visual elements
Refine the edit
Each of these is a small victory. I don't wait to feel motivated to edit, I just start with step one, and by the time I've finished that, I've built enough momentum that I want to continue.
The same principle applies to anything:
Written one sentence? Great, now write a paragraph.
Done one push-up? Try for two tomorrow.
Brainstormed business names? Now sketch a simple logo.
Small victories stack into momentum, momentum builds into habits, and habits create results.
Here's the beautiful part: Once you're in motion, things start to happen. New ideas spark. Opportunities appear. Your enthusiasm builds. But NONE of this happens until you start.
Think about it: Every major accomplishment in your life, from relationships to career achievements, began with a single, often terrifying first step.
So what are you waiting for? What ridiculously small first step could you take TODAY on that project you've been putting off?
Because remember, you can't iterate on something that doesn't exist.
And the difference between people who create things and people who don't isn't talent, resources, or luck.
It's simply that creators found the courage to begin.
Thanks for reading this far, I really appreciate it. Cheers!
Can you relate to any of this? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts or experiences! I'd love to hear which part resonated most with you.
