There’s a moment when all the preparation, planning and dreaming in the world comes down to one thing: action. Yet for so many of us, that first step can feel insurmountable. We wait until we feel ready, until the timing is perfect, the stars align.

The truth is, we’ll never feel completely ready. The stars don’t have to align. When might now be a good time?

Sometimes, we just have to jump into the water feet first and see if we can swim.

In November I went to see the utterly brilliant Chris Williamson, host of the widely acclaimed Modern Wisdom podcast, at his live show in London where he spoke on this (amongst many other sharply thought provoking, mindset challenging topics, quite superbly). His insights challenged my thinking around the value of taking action. One principle stuck with me: “Preparing to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.”

This concept, originally from a piece by Strangest Loop, brilliantly captures how we often deceive ourselves into thinking we’re making progress when we’re really just circling the starting line:

Preparing to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Scheduling time to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Making a to-do list for the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Telling people you’re going to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Reading about how to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Fantasizing about all the adoration you’ll receive once you do the thing isn’t doing the thing.

The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.

It’s simple but powerful. We can become so consumed by preparation that we convince ourselves we’re making progress when, in reality, we’re just delaying the inevitable: the courage to start.

Action Is What Creates Momentum

On Extrology, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with incredible individuals who didn’t just plan to take on challenges—they acted. People like Vanessa Ruck, who redefined herself after a life-changing accident and Chad Foster, who transformed the loss of his sight into an opportunity for growth, didn’t wait until they were ready. They began, imperfectly and bravely, and in doing so, they found momentum and purpose.

Vanessa didn’t just think about adapting to her new reality—she took tangible steps by setting goals and pursuing adaptive racing. Chad didn’t merely prepare to navigate his blindness—he reframed it as a springboard for growth and connection.

Their journeys remind us that action, no matter how small, creates momentum. And once momentum builds, it has a way of carrying us through challenges we never thought we could overcome.

My Own Leap

Starting Extrology was my own "jump into the water" moment. I could have spent years perfecting the concept, but the truth is, I didn’t know how it would evolve until I began. It wasn’t the preparation that built the podcast into what it is today—it was the doing.

Taking that first step is hard because it demands vulnerability. It exposes us to failure, criticism, and the unknown, but it also opens the door to growth, connection, and achievement.

Stop Waiting, Start Doing

If you’re standing at the edge, waiting for the perfect moment to act, let me save you some time: there isn’t one. Start now. Begin where you are, with what you have, and let the process teach you what you need to know.

Linking back to Strangest Loop, their words are a reminder to stop overthinking and start doing. You can read the full piece here.

The courage to begin might feel like the hardest part, but it’s also the most important. Everything else flows from that first brave step.

So, what’s your thing? And more importantly, what’s stopping you from doing it today?