Start Small, Start Now

You’ve probably told yourself at some point, “I’ll start when things are better.” Maybe when life slows down, when you feel more ready, or when you finally have the right tools.

The truth is, that perfect moment rarely comes. Progress doesn’t start with ideal conditions, it starts the moment you take the first step with whatever you already have.

The truth is, you don’t need the perfect gear to begin. You don’t need flawless timing, endless free hours, or a clear path ahead. What you need is the willingness to start now.

Start, Fail, Persevere

When I was training for my first triathlon after a severe back injury, I didn’t own a road bike. All I had was a heavy, clunky mountain bike, it was neither fast nor efficient. However, instead of waiting to buy the “right” equipment, I started with what I had.

A few weeks into training, I decided to ride the hill that would be part of the race course. It wasn’t the steepest hill in the world, but on that mountain bike, it felt like Mount Everest.

I tried three times and had to get off the bike each time before finally reaching the top. Breathless, sweaty, and embarrassed, I felt like I was fighting a battle I couldn’t win.

It reminded me of the myth of Sisyphus, the man condemned to push a boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down again. For a moment, that’s how it felt: push, fail, repeat. But unlike Sisyphus, my hill wasn’t a punishment. It was a proving ground. Each stumble was teaching me something. Each failed attempt was making me stronger.

Maybe you have a hill like that in your life right now. A challenge at work. A health goal. A dream you keep putting off. It can feel like the obstacle is holding you back—but in reality, the obstacle might be shaping you. Sometimes the hill itself is the training. The struggle is what prepares you for what comes next.

That hill became a symbol for me. It wasn’t just about pedaling to the top, it was about proving that excuses wouldn’t win.

So I trained harder. Day by day, my legs grew stronger. The hill that once broke me became the hill that defined me. The same slope where I stumbled became the place where I discovered the power of persistence.

Eventually, I did buy a road bike.

It was faster, smoother, lighter… everything I thought I needed in the beginning. But by the time I got it, I realized something: if I had waited for that bike before starting, I wouldn’t have been ready for the race at all. What prepared me wasn’t the gear. It was the grind. The mountain bike, the one I almost wrote off, was the reason I was ready. And here’s the best part: I did make it up that hill. I did finish that race.

But what made those moments truly meaningful was remembering where I had started. When I began training, I could barely walk. After my back injury, I couldn’t lift anything remotely heavy.

Yet by starting with what my body could handle, and with the clunky equipment I had, I built strength one step at a time. And because of that choice, not only did I conquer the hill and finish the race, but I was able to lift my precious daughter onto my shoulders at the finish line—a moment far greater than any medal.

Your Turn

Just like you don’t need an expensive bike to train for your first race, you probably don’t need that thing you are waiting for to get started. You don’t need a gym membership to get fit. You don’t need the latest laptop to start writing that book.

What you need is momentum, starting with what you have even if the conditions aren’t perfect.

So, what’s your hill?

What’s the thing you’ve been putting off because you’re waiting for the right tools, the right time, or the right plan?

Here are three ways to take action today:

1. Start With What You Have
   Identify one area where you’ve been waiting for perfect conditions. Write it down. Then ask yourself: what do I already have that I can use to start?

2. Start Pedaling
   Don’t overcomplicate it. If you’ve been waiting to get fit, take a 10-minute walk. If you’ve been waiting to write, jot down one paragraph. If you’ve been waiting to learn a skill, practice for five minutes today.

3. Climb Your Hill
   Pick one challenge you’ve been avoiding and face it this week. Don’t worry if you stumble—it’s part of the training. Every step forward builds strength and confidence.

The lesson is simple: don’t wait for the perfect moment, the perfect gear, or the perfect conditions. Start with what you have, right where you are. The struggle won’t stop you—it will shape you.

So whatever hill you’re staring at today, don’t wait for a lighter bike or a smoother road. Start pedaling. The hill that challenges you now may just become the hill that defines you.