GIRL, I’m going to be honest with you. Here is a list of things I did instead of starting this blog post: 

• Had a photoshoot 
• Posted on Instagram 
• Changed my iphone wallpaper 
• Scrolled through LinkedIn (that’s how you know I’m desperate)

So TRUST me when I say, I know how hard it can be to start a new project, even a small one. Sometimes, my brain feels overcrowded. It’s like a ping pong match in there — I have too many ideas that are pulling me in a dozen different directions. I feel paralyzed. Other times, I have the opposite problem and it’s like all my ideas have run dry. I have so many things I want to do, but I struggle to start any of them. Why does this happen to me…to US? 

I’m overwhelmed by the possibilities 

I’ve noticed that I really struggle with decision-making. I have a hard time choosing what my new project will look like or where to begin. This gets even harder when I add social media to the mix. Social media gives me endless ideas and opinions to the point where it’s hard to sort through and actually choose one. I put off starting the project because I can’t land on one good idea. NOTHING feels quite right. However, there comes a time where I can’t delay any longer and just need to pick something. Here’s my tip: Take a break from the Internet, sit with your ideas, choose one that resonates with you, and don’t look back. 

I’m trying to get it “just right” 

This is a big one. You know when you spend hours, weeks, maybe even months trying to get everything JUST right before you begin. If you let yourself fall into this trap, you will always be planning and never actually doing. Sometimes, you just need to go for it instead of waiting for that perfect moment. Or, as our SheEO Rachel says, launch and adjust. Perfection is the killer of inspiration and great things; it’s this impossible goal we are constantly chasing, but somehow it always stays one step ahead. Instead of aiming for perfection, aim to just start, wherever you are, and see where it leads you. By taking that first step, you are already further ahead than where you were before. 

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Fear of failure

This one can be hard to admit. If I never start, then I can never fail, right? But here’s the important thing to remember: Failure on a project doesn’t mean YOU’RE a failure as a person. Sometimes, failure can open the door for your next big idea. It’s necessary to push past this fear and know that it’s WORTH fighting for something you want, even at the risk of not getting it right. Failure is not the end of the world (everyone fails, everyone grows!) and it is not a reason to avoid starting. 

Here’s the truth: I put off starting this blog post for a long time today (yes, I understand the irony). But you know what? That’s OKAY because I finally did it! Starting a project can be hard, for so many reasons, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it because success comes on the other side. If you’re looking for another boost to FINALLY start that project, the DTC COMMUNITY is here to support you every step of the way. With confidence coaching chats, inspiration, and resources to build your dream, starting something new has never been easier with supportive women at your side!