Success #InTheWorx: How to Make Big Moves Before You’re Ready

It took me a long time to learn this lesson: if you’re waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the perfect circumstances to take your next big step, you’ll be waiting forever. 

Perfection is a myth. The reality is that success doesn’t come from having everything figured out, but it comes from moving forward while things are still #intheworx.

Life, work, and everything in between are messy, uncertain, and ever-changing. But that’s where the magic happens. Taking action BEFORE you feel “ready” is how you learn, grow, and in my experience, unlock real breakthroughs. It’s how you turn dreams into reality, one imperfect step at a time.

The Problem: Perfection Paralysis

We’ve all been there. You’ve got a big idea, a bold goal, or a new direction calling your name. But instead of diving in, you hesitate. Why? Because it’s not the “right time.” Or you don’t feel ready. Or you’re worried you’ll fail… all kinds of fears start to show up. 

This perfection paralysis keeps so many people stuck, waiting for an ideal that doesn’t exist. It took me 2 years … yes, 2 YEARS! … to decide on starting my business. So many excuses and fears were going through my head: “I don’t know how to start”, “Who will hire me?”, “What do I have to offer”, “I don’t have a website”, “I don’t have a name”, “I don’t have capital to get started”, “Am I crazy to want to start a business in the middle of a pandemic?” and so many more!

You’ll never feel 100% ready… but you don’t need to be. The key to success is starting anyway. 

After calming the thoughts in my brain, I was able to identify my #tinystep: it was to drive downtown to the Monroe County Clerk’s office in the summer of 2020, and pay $30 for a Doing Business As (DBA), and a business was born.  Once I did that, I then went back to the drawing board for my next tiny step, which was to pick an audience and offer based on my skills.

What is the tiniest step you need to take?  

Why Taking Action #InTheWorx Leads to Success

When you take action while things are still #intheworx, something incredible happens. You start building momentum, learning through doing, and creating opportunities that wouldn’t exist if you waited for perfection. Here’s why this approach works:

1. Action Beats Intention Every Time
   Good intentions are great, but #action is what moves the needle. Even imperfect action puts you ahead of where you were yesterday. Every step forward teaches you something new and brings you closer to your goals.

2. Progress Over Perfection
   When you embrace the idea that done is better than perfect, you free yourself from the pressure of trying to get everything right. Progress, not perfection, is what leads to breakthroughs.

3. Clarity Comes Through Action
   You don’t need to have every detail figured out before you start. Taking action gives you clarity. It shows you what works, what doesn’t, and what’s possible.

4. Resilience Through Messiness
   Making big moves while things are still #intheworx teaches you to adapt, pivot, and keep going when things don’t go as planned. And that resilience, it’s a superpower that sets you up for long-term success.

How to Make Big Moves Before You’re Ready

Ready to stop waiting and start doing? Here’s how to take bold action, even when you don’t feel 100% prepared:

1. Start Small, Start Now
   You don’t have to make the leap all at once. Start with one small step, something manageable that moves you closer to your goal. The momentum will build from there.

2. Redefine Failure
   Failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s part of the process. Every setback is a learning opportunity that makes you better prepared for what’s next.

3. Focus on the Next Right Move
   You don’t need a perfect five-year plan to make progress. Just focus on the next right move. What’s ONE thing you can do today to move closer to your goal?

4. Surround Yourself with Support
   Big moves are easier when you have the right people in your corner. Find mentors, peers, or a community that encourages you, challenges you, and helps you grow.

5. Celebrate the Wins - Even the Small Ones
   Every step forward is worth celebrating. Acknowledge your progress, no matter how small, and use it as fuel to keep going.

Success is Always #InTheWorx

Life is never going to be perfectly polished. Your career, your goals, your personal growth, they’re all #intheworx. And that’s okay. 

In fact, that’s the point.

Real success doesn’t come from waiting until you’re “ready.” It comes from taking action, learning along the way, and embracing the messiness of the process.

So, what’s your next move? Whatever it is, start today. Take one step, no matter how small, and let the momentum carry you forward. Because success isn’t about having it all figured out…it’s about showing up, taking action, and trusting the process while life is still #InTheWorx.