What If You Just Started Walking?
What if you wanted to walk across the United States, or perhaps some other large country—how would you do it?
For such a massive project, you might want to do some research in advance. It could be helpful to get advice from other people who’ve done such a thing. There are, after all, lots of write-ups of exactly that experience.
You might want to prepare a packing list, spend some time thinking about the optimal route, and get in as much training as possible before your day of departure. Even if you’re in good shape, most of us aren’t used to walking twenty miles a day or more, day after day.
All of those things would be helpful. Perhaps even wise!
But to get to the point, and the title of this post: what if you just started walking? What would happen then?
I’d argue that if you just started walking, you’d eventually get to your destination. The beginning would probably be rough, you might struggle to adapt, and so on—but as long as you didn’t stop too soon, you’d get there!
Compare this to another scenario, the one where you do you everything possible to prepare well, but then never start the walk. In this scenario, all of that diligent research ended up being a means of deferral, rather than a confidence-booster.
You know people who’ve done something like that, right? They spend all the time in the world talking about some thing they want to do, but never get around to actually doing it. Perhaps you’d done that yourself at some point.
Naturally, the wisest path in many situations is to figure out the right amount of prep work and bold action. Fortune favors the prepared, as the saying goes.
When walking across America, some of that research would be undoubtedly helpful. It could save you time and hardship.
But if you find you’re repeatedly getting stuck on the action side, you should cut down (or even cut out) the prep work.
Just start walking. What would happen? Eventually, you’d get there.
This mindset doesn’t apply to everything in life, but it applies to a lot. Consider the many things you could do if you decided to “just start walking”:
- Write a book (simple, right? just start writing…)
- Learn a language (pick one day a week where you use only that language—the only way out is through…)
- Make an app (if you don’t know how to code, just start learning…)
- Perform on-stage at a concert (better start practicing! and, simultaneously, find a way to book a venue for your debut)
- Make a YouTube or TikTok video every day for a year (don’t go to bed until it’s done every day)
(This is, of course, a highly abbreviated list. What would be on your list?)
Cool, So What About that Research?
You might think, okay, this sounds good, but how do I know when the preparation would be useful and not merely a means of deferral? Great question! And there’s an easy way to know the answer: by asking yourself.
The next time you find yourself contemplating a big idea that you feel drawn toward, first ask if you really want to do it. If you’re not sure, figure that out first.
Then, consider: does the research make you feel more excited and confident? As you increase your knowledge and proficiency of a subject, do you feel your departure date drawing nearer?
If so, great. Keep preparing in earnest.
But if not—if the research, training, or other prep work simply reinforces your fears and hesitancy—well, that’s a clear sign that you need to just start walking.
It’s simple, right? Overall, I find the model of just start walking to be highly underrated.
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