Part 1: Getting Started - The Foundation of Meaningful Change
- Amy Hamilton
- 3 hours ago
- 18 min read
The Moment Before You Begin
Let me ask you something: How many times have you said "I'll start on Monday"? Or "I'll begin next month when things calm down"? Or the classic, "Once I have everything figured out, then I'll take the leap"?
If you're reading this, you're probably standing at that familiar crossroads. Maybe you're staring at a blank document that will become your book. Maybe you're about to walk into a new job on Monday morning. Maybe you're two weeks away from launching a business that's been living rent-free in your head for years. Or maybe you're still in that messy in-between space, knowing change needs to happen but unsure where to start.
Here's what I've learned from years of coaching people through major transitions, launching projects, and navigating career pivots: The hardest part of any change isn't the middle or even the end. It's the beginning. It's that terrifying moment when the blank page is still blank, when you haven't made your first impression yet, when your business is still just an idea that could stay safely theoretical forever.
But here's the truth nobody tells you about getting started: You're never going to feel completely ready. And that's exactly when you need to begin.
Why Getting Started Is Actually the Biggest Hurdle
I work with accomplished professionals all the time—people with advanced degrees, decades of experience, and resumes that would impress anyone. And you know what? They still freeze at the starting line. The person who can manage a team of fifty struggles to write the first sentence of their book. The executive who's navigated million-dollar budgets procrastinates on starting their consulting business. The researcher with groundbreaking findings can't bring themselves to begin the manuscript.
The problem isn't capability. It's the psychological weight of beginning something new.
Starting means:
Making yourself vulnerable - Your idea is no longer safely hypothetical. It's real, which means it can fail.
Committing to uncertainty - You're choosing a path without knowing exactly where it leads.
Confronting your limitations - You'll discover what you don't know, what you're not good at, what you'll need to learn.
Disappointing your inner perfectionist - Your first draft, first week, first quarter will not be perfect. Period.
This is why so many people spend years "getting ready" to start. They take another course, read another book, wait for the right moment, gather more information. It feels productive, but it's often just sophisticated procrastination.
The Mental Shift That Changes Everything
Before we talk tools and tactics, you need to make one fundamental mental shift: Starting is not about being ready. It's about being willing.
Think about it this way. When you learned to ride a bike, you didn't wait until you were "ready" to stop using training wheels. Your parents or whoever taught you just took them off one day, and you wobbled and probably fell and eventually figured it out. You learned by doing, not by waiting to feel confident.
Starting your book, your new job, your business—it's the same principle. You begin before you're ready, and you figure it out as you go. The confidence comes from doing, not before it.
This doesn't mean you start recklessly without any preparation. It means you prepare enough to begin, then you begin and learn what you actually need as you go. There's a massive difference.
The Five Foundation Questions You Need to Answer
Before diving into tools and systems, spend some real time with these questions. Grab a notebook or open a doc and actually write down your answers. Not because I said so, but because writing clarifies thinking in a way that mental gymnastics never does.
1. What am I actually trying to create or accomplish?
Get specific. "Write a book" is too vague. "Write a 60,000-word business memoir about pivoting careers in your 40s, structured around five major transitions" is specific. See the difference?
For a new job: "Be successful" is vague. "Build relationships with five key stakeholders in my first 30 days, understand our Q1 priorities, and identify one quick win I can deliver within 60 days" is specific.
For a business: "Start a consulting company" is vague. "Launch a cybersecurity consulting practice focused on small healthcare organizations, with three pilot clients secured by end of Q2" is specific.
Why this matters: Vague goals lead to vague actions. Specific goals give you something concrete to build toward.
2. Why does this matter to me?
This isn't just feel-good fluff. When things get hard—and they will—your "why" is what keeps you going. But you need to dig past the surface-level answers.
Writing a book? Sure, maybe you want to share your expertise. But why? What will it feel like to hold that finished book in your hands? What conversation do you want to start? What impact do you want to have?
Starting a new job? Beyond the paycheck (which matters), what attracted you to this opportunity? What do you want to learn? How does this fit into your larger career trajectory?
Launching a business? Past "being my own boss," what freedom or impact are you actually seeking? What problem are you uniquely positioned to solve?
Pro tip: Ask yourself "why?" three times, drilling down past the obvious answer to the real one. That's where your sustainable motivation lives.
3. What am I actually afraid of?
Time to get honest. What's keeping you up at night about this? Fear of failure? Fear of success? Fear of judgment? Fear of discovering you're not as capable as you thought?
Name your fears. Write them down. Because unnamed fears have power over you. Named fears become problems you can strategize around.
Common fears when starting something new:
"What if I'm not as good at this as I think I am?"
"What if no one cares about what I create?"
"What if I can't handle the workload/pressure/responsibility?"
"What if I succeed and then can't maintain it?"
"What if this is a huge mistake and I should have stayed where I was?"
All of these fears are normal. All of them are, to some degree, realistic possibilities. And all of them are manageable once you acknowledge them.
4. What's the smallest possible first step?
This is where most people go wrong. They try to take a giant leap when a small step would serve them better. The key to getting started is making your first move so small that your resistance doesn't have time to kick in.
Writing a book? Your first step isn't "write chapter one." It's "spend 15 minutes brainstorming topics for chapter one" or "outline the three main points I want to make in the opening."
Starting a new job? Your first step isn't "make a great first impression on everyone." It's "research the first three people I'll be meeting" or "prepare three questions to ask about team dynamics."
Launching a business? Your first step isn't "build a website and social media presence." It's "interview five potential customers about their biggest pain points" or "write down exactly what service I'll offer and who I'll offer it to."
The rule: If your first step feels overwhelming, it's not small enough. Keep breaking it down until it feels almost too easy. Then do that.
5. How will I measure progress?
You need a way to know you're moving forward, especially in the messy early stages when nothing feels finished. Define what progress looks like for your specific situation.
For writing: "I've made progress if I've written 500 words today" or "if I've completed one section of my outline" or "if I've dedicated 30 minutes to writing, regardless of quality."
For a new job: "I've made progress if I've had a meaningful one-on-one with someone new" or "if I've learned one thing about our systems/processes/culture that I didn't know yesterday."
For a business: "I've made progress if I've talked to one potential customer" or "if I've completed one item on my pre-launch checklist" or "if I've invested focused time on the business, even if nothing tangible came from it yet."
Notice these are all action-based, not outcome-based.
In the beginning, you control your actions but not your outcomes. Measure what you can control.
Building Your Starting System: Technology That Actually Helps
Okay, now that we've handled the mental game, let's talk practical systems. Technology should simplify your start, not complicate it. Here's what actually works.
Central Command: Your Project Management Hub
Don't start without a single place to capture everything related to your project, job, or business. Your brain cannot hold all the details, and scattered notes across multiple platforms create decision fatigue before you even begin.
Option 1: Notion (My Top Pick for Most People)
Why it works: Notion combines notes, tasks, databases, and calendars in one place. You can create a custom workspace tailored to exactly what you need.
How to set it up for getting started:
Create a new page for your project/job/business
Add a "Master To-Do" database where everything lives
Create a "Resources" section for links, documents, references
Add a "Daily Log" where you track progress and learning
Include a "Questions/Blockers" section to capture what you're stuck on
Cost: Free plan is robust enough for solo use. Paid plans start at $10/month if you need advanced features.
Security note: Enable 2FA immediately. Consider upgrading to a paid plan if you're storing sensitive information, as it includes better admin controls.
Option 2: Trello (Best for Visual Thinkers)
Why it works: The board/card system is intuitive and satisfying. Drag-and-drop makes it feel less intimidating than a massive to-do list.
How to set it up:
Create three basic columns: "To Do," "In Progress," "Done"
Add cards for each major task or milestone
Use labels to categorize (urgent, research needed, waiting on someone else)
Attach relevant files directly to cards
Cost: Free for basic use. Power-ups (integrations) require paid plans starting at $5/month.
Option 3: Asana (Best for Complex Projects with Multiple Phases)
Why it works: More structured than Notion or Trello, which helps if you need clear timelines and dependencies.
How to set it up:
Create a project with clear sections (Prep, Launch, Post-Launch, etc.)
Build your task list with realistic due dates
Use subtasks to break down bigger items
Set up recurring tasks for weekly reviews
Cost: Free for basic use. Premium plans start at $10.99/month per user.
The key: Pick ONE. Don't tool-hop. The best system is the one you'll actually use, not the one with the most features.
Capturing Ideas: Because They'll Come at Inconvenient Times
When you're starting something new, ideas and insights will hit you at random moments—in the shower, during your commute, right before you fall asleep. You need a frictionless way to capture them before they evaporate.
Option 1: Voice Notes (Apple Voice Memos, Google Recorder)
Why: Speaking is faster than typing, and you can capture thoughts while doing other things.
How to use: Set up a dedicated folder/tag for your project. When inspiration strikes, open the app and talk. Don't worry about eloquence—just capture the thought. Review and transfer to your main system weekly.
Security tip: If discussing sensitive business information, be mindful of where you're recording and what cloud services are auto-syncing your recordings.
Option 2: Apple Notes or Google Keep
Why: Fast, simple, always with you on your phone. Perfect for quick captures.
How to use: Create a note titled "Project Inbox" or something similar. Dump everything there. Process it later when you're at your main workspace.
Option 3: Drafts App (iOS) or OneNote (cross-platform)
Why: Designed specifically for quick capture with powerful organization features for later.
How to use: Capture first, organize later. Both apps let you quickly send notes to your other systems when you're ready to process them.
Writing and Creating: Tools That Lower the Barrier
If your project involves writing (a book, proposals, content, documentation), you need tools that make starting easy and staying consistent easier.
For Writing Your Book or Long-Form Content:
Scrivener - The gold standard for book-length projects. Allows you to write in small chunks (chapters, scenes, sections) that later compile into a full manuscript. The learning curve is real but worth it.
Cost: $49 one-time purchase. Available for Mac, Windows, iOS.
Google Docs - Free, accessible anywhere, real-time backup, easy collaboration if you're working with an editor or co-author. Not as feature-rich as Scrivener but entirely adequate for most projects.
Cost: Free
Security note: Use a strong, unique password and enable 2FA. Be careful about link sharing settings—"anyone with the link" can mean anyone, including bots.
For Business Writing (Proposals, Plans, Client Documents):
Microsoft Word/365 - Industry standard for professional documents. Strong collaboration and comment features.
Cost: Subscription-based, $6.99/month for personal use or included with most business packages.
Notion or Coda - Modern alternatives that combine documents with databases. Great if you want your business plan to link directly to your task lists and metrics.
AI as Your Starting Companion: Use It Thoughtfully
AI tools have transformed how we can approach getting started. Used wisely, they're incredible. Used carelessly, they'll lead you astray.
ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity - For brainstorming, outlining, overcoming blank page paralysis
Smart uses when starting:
"I'm writing a book about [topic]. Help me brainstorm 10 possible structures for organizing the content."
"I'm starting a new role as [position]. What should I learn about in my first 30 days?"
"I'm launching a [type] business. What are the most common mistakes people make in their first six months?"
"I have these rough ideas [paste your brain dump]. Help me organize them into a logical outline."
What NOT to do:
Don't ask AI to write your content for you wholesale. It should spark ideas, not replace your voice.
Don't trust AI-generated facts without verification, especially for anything business or technical.
Don't use AI to avoid the hard thinking work. It should complement your brain, not replace it.
Cost: ChatGPT free tier is robust. Paid plans ($20/month for ChatGPT Plus, $20/month for Claude Pro) give you better models and more capacity.
Security warning: Never paste confidential information, client data, or proprietary information into AI tools unless you're using an enterprise plan with proper data handling agreements.
Time Blocking: Making Space for Starting
Google Calendar or Apple Calendar - Free, works on all your devices
Here's the system:
Block 30-60 minute chunks for your new project at least 3x per week
Title them clearly: "Book Writing Time" or "Business Development" not just "Focus Time"
Treat these blocks as non-negotiable as any external meeting
Set a 5-minute reminder before each block to mentally transition
Focus@Will or Brain.fm - Background music designed to help you concentrate. Sounds gimmicky but the science is solid.
Cost: Both offer free trials, then ~$7-10/month subscriptions.
RescueTime - Automatic time tracking that shows you where your time actually goes
Why: When you're starting something new, it's easy to feel like you're working on it when you're actually just thinking about working on it. RescueTime gives you the truth.
Cost: Free version provides good insights. Premium is $12/month.
The First Week Protocol: Your Proven Getting-Started Framework
Alright, enough theory. Here's your actual first week, broken down day by day. Adapt it to your situation, but follow the spirit of the framework.
Day 1: Foundation Day
Total time commitment: 2-3 hours
Morning (1 hour):
Answer the Five Foundation Questions in writing
Set up your Central Command system (Notion, Trello, or Asana)
Create your first high-level task list (just major categories, not detailed)
Afternoon (1-2 hours):
Research 30 minutes: Look at how others have successfully started what you're starting
Create your Week 1 task list: No more than 5 tangible items
Schedule your work blocks for the rest of the week
End of day:
Write one paragraph about how you're feeling. Fear? Excitement? Both? Document it.
Day 2: Small First Action
Total time commitment: 1 hour
Today you do the smallest possible meaningful action toward your goal. This isn't planning. This is doing.
Examples:
If writing a book: Write 250 words. Any 250 words. Don't edit.
If starting a new job: Send intro emails to 2-3 key people you'll be working with
If launching a business: Have one conversation with a potential customer, even informally
The point: Create momentum by doing something concrete, however small.
After: Update your Central Command system. Mark this first action as DONE. Feel the satisfaction.
Day 3: Build Your Support Structure
Total time commitment: 1-2 hours
You can't do this alone, and you shouldn't try. Today is about assembling your support network.
Tasks:
Identify 2-3 people who will hold you accountable. Text them explaining what you're starting and asking if they'll check in with you weekly.
Join one relevant community (online forum, Facebook group, Slack channel, local meetup). Just join. You'll engage more later.
Schedule your first "accountability check-in" for one week from now with yourself or a friend.
Optional but powerful:
Share publicly what you're starting. A social media post, an email to your network, a blog post. Making it public increases your commitment.
Day 4: Identify and Address Your First Obstacle
Total time commitment: 1 hour
By now, you've hit your first real hurdle. Maybe you discovered a skill gap, a resource you don't have, a question you can't answer. Perfect. This is normal.
Tasks:
Write down specifically what's blocking you
Research one solution (tutorial, person to ask, tool to try)
Take one action toward removing that obstacle today
Examples:
Don't know how to format a book manuscript? Watch one YouTube tutorial on manuscript formatting.
Confused about your new company's systems? Find documentation or ask a colleague for a 15-minute walkthrough.
Unclear on your business structure? Read one article on LLC vs. S-Corp or schedule a consultation with an accountant.
Don't try to solve the whole problem today. Just take one step toward solving it.
Day 5: Create Something Shareable
Total time commitment: 1-2 hours
End your first week by producing something tangible that proves you've started.
Examples:
A rough outline of your first three chapters
A one-pager summarizing your first week's learning in your new job
A draft of your business's value proposition and target customer
This doesn't have to be polished. It just has to exist.
Then: Share it with one person in your support network and ask for feedback. Not comprehensive feedback—just "does this make sense?" level feedback.
Weekend: Reflect and Adjust
Total time commitment: 30 minutes
Sit down with coffee or tea and answer these questions:
What actually happened this week?
What was harder than expected? What was easier?
What system or tool helped most? What didn't work?
What's my focus for Week 2?
On a scale of 1-10, how confident do I feel right now? (There's no wrong answer)
Write this down in your Central Command system. You'll look back on this in three months and be amazed at how far you've come.
Common Starting Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Pitfall 1: Analysis Paralysis
What it looks like: Spending weeks researching tools, methodologies, case studies, and never actually starting.
Why it happens: Research feels productive and doesn't involve the risk of actually creating something that could fail.
The fix: Set a firm deadline for your research phase. "I will spend 3 days researching tools, then I will pick one and start using it. Period." When that deadline hits, choose the option that seems 80% right and move forward. You can always switch later, but you can't learn until you start.
Pitfall 2: Perfectionism on Day One
What it looks like: Rewriting your first paragraph seventeen times. Spending hours on your logo before you have a business plan. Agonizing over the perfect project management setup.
Why it happens: If nothing's final, nothing can fail. Also, we've been conditioned to equate "done well" with "done right," even in early stages where "done messy" is actually better.
The fix: Embrace the concept of "scaffolding." Your early work is temporary structure, not permanent building. Tell yourself explicitly: "This draft is practice. This setup is Version 1.0. This plan is my starting hypothesis." Permission to do it imperfectly is permission to start.
Pitfall 3: Isolation
What it looks like: Keeping your project secret until it's "ready." Working alone without feedback, input, or accountability.
Why it happens: Fear of judgment, fear of someone stealing your idea, or the introvert's preference for figuring things out solo before going public.
The fix: You don't have to broadcast to the world, but you need at least 2-3 people who know what you're doing and will ask about it. These should be people who want you to succeed, not critics. The earlier you involve others, the faster you'll learn and the less likely you are to quit when it gets hard.
Pitfall 4: Overcommitting Too Soon
What it looks like: Announcing your book will be done in three months when you haven't written a chapter. Promising deliverables in your new job before you understand the landscape. Quitting your day job to start a business before you have your first customer.
Why it happens: Enthusiasm, optimism, and wanting to burn boats so you have to succeed.
The fix: Commit privately before you commit publicly. Give yourself a realistic timeline with buffer. Test your idea on a small scale before going all-in. There's a difference between bold commitment and reckless overreach. Know which one you're doing.
Pitfall 5: Quitting After the First Setback
What it looks like: Hitting your first obstacle—a bad writing day, a confusing meeting at your new job, a potential customer saying no—and interpreting it as a sign that you shouldn't be doing this.
Why it happens: The early stages are when you're least confident and most vulnerable to doubt. One setback feels like confirmation of your worst fears.
The fix: Expect the first week to be messy. Expect to feel incompetent at times. Expect things to not go as planned. This is not failure. This is the beginning. Judge your decision to start based on patterns over weeks and months, not reactions to isolated bad days.
Protecting Your Start: Essential Security Practices
You're probably thinking, "Really? Security concerns when I'm just getting started?" Yes. Really. Because the habits you build now become your systems later, and recovering from a security breach is infinitely harder than preventing one.
Basic Security Hygiene for All New Projects
Use a password manager - Not a maybe, a must.
Why: You're about to create accounts for project management tools, writing platforms, business services, cloud storage. If you reuse passwords, one breach compromises everything.
Recommended: 1Password ($2.99/month personal, $7.99/month family) or Bitwarden (free or $10/year premium)
Set it up today, before you create your first new account.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) everywhere
What it is: A second verification step (usually a code from your phone) after entering your password.
Where to enable it immediately:
Your Central Command tool (Notion, Trello, Asana)
Email accounts
Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
Any financial accounts related to your business
AI tools if you're using paid plans
Use separate email addresses for different purposes
Set up:
One personal email
One for business/professional use
One for subscriptions and account creation
Why: Compartmentalization limits damage if one account is compromised, and keeps your main inbox manageable.
Cost: Free (Gmail, Outlook, etc. allow multiple accounts)
Protecting Your Intellectual Property
Backup everything, automatically, to multiple locations
Your book manuscript, business plans, and early work are irreplaceable. Hardware fails. Cloud services have outages. Humans make mistakes.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule:
3 copies of your data
2 different storage types (cloud + external drive, for example)
1 offsite backup
Recommended setup:
Primary: Work on your computer with local saves
Secondary: Automatic cloud sync (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud)
Tertiary: Weekly backup to external hard drive, stored safely
Version control for important documents
Don't just save over your previous versions. Create a system:
"BookDraft_v1_2025-02-01.docx"
"BusinessPlan_v2_2025-02-08.docx"
Or use tools with built-in version history:
Google Docs automatically tracks versions
Scrivener has snapshot features
Notion has page history
Be careful with public sharing
When using:
Google Docs: Don't share with "anyone with the link" unless you mean the entire internet
Notion: Check your sharing settings before inviting others
Dropbox/cloud storage: Use password-protected links when sharing sensitive material
Business-Specific Security Considerations
If you're starting a business:
Separate personal and business finances immediately
Open a business bank account
Get a business credit card
Never commingle funds, even in early stages
Protect your business idea documentation
Store in encrypted cloud storage
Use watermarks on any documents you share with potential partners
Consider an NDA for early conversations with collaborators (but don't be paranoid—ideas alone aren't usually stolen; execution is what matters)
Know what you're agreeing to with technology platforms
Read the terms of service (or at least skim them) for:
Who owns content you create on their platform
How they use your data
What happens if you want to export your data later
Particularly important for: website builders, CRM systems, email marketing platforms.
The Mindset Shift That Makes Starting Easier
I want to end this first article with something that took me years to learn: Starting is not about having all the answers. It's about being comfortable not having them.
Every person who's written a book, started a successful business, or thrived in a new role felt uncertain at the beginning. The difference between them and people who stay stuck in the planning phase is this: they started anyway.
You don't need:
Complete clarity on every detail
Absolute confidence in your abilities
Permission from anyone else
Perfect conditions
All your fears resolved
You need:
A clear enough vision of what you're trying to create
A small enough first step that you can take it today
A system to track progress and learn as you go
A willingness to be uncomfortable while figuring things out
The discipline to show up regularly, even when it's hard
That's it. That's the list.
Starting doesn't mean you're ready. It means you're willing. And willing is enough.
Your Personal Starting Checklist
Before moving to Part 2 (Staying Motivated), make sure you've completed:
□ Answered the Five Foundation Questions in writing
□ Chose and set up your Central Command system
□ Identified and scheduled your work blocks for at least the next week □ Set up basic security (password manager, 2FA on key accounts)
□ Established your backup system
□ Taken your first small action toward your goal
□ Identified 2-3 accountability partners
□ Written your "Day 1" reflection
If you've done these things, you're not planning anymore.
You've started. Congratulations. That's the hardest part.
In Part 2, we'll tackle the next challenge: staying motivated when the initial excitement wears off, when obstacles pile up, and when you wonder if you're crazy for trying this in the first place. Because starting is hard, but staying committed is harder—and that's exactly why you need a system for it.
Take the Next Step
You've made it to the end of this article, which means you're serious about starting something meaningful. Don't let this be another tab you close with good intentions and no action.
Right now, before you do anything else:
Open a new document
Write at the top: "The Five Foundation Questions"
Spend 20 minutes answering them honestly
Take one small action toward your goal today. Any action.
That's your starting point. Everything else builds from here.
Ready to talk through your specific starting challenges? I offer free 30-minute discovery calls where we identify what's actually blocking your start and create a custom game plan. No sales pressure, just straight talk about what it really takes to begin.
Want support as you get started? Join our community and upcoming workshops where we work through starting challenges together, share accountability, and leverage technology (including AI) to overcome obstacles faster.
Starting is hard. Doing it alone is harder. Let's change that.
—ASH
This is Part 1 of a three-part series on navigating change.
Coming next: Part 2 - Staying Motivated: How to Maintain Momentum When Reality Sets In
Comments