Execute at the edge of your fear

Why is it so hard starting something new?

I came across this paradox when searching for my first job.

You can't get a job because you don't have job experience, but you need a job to get job experience!

How did you get your first job?

I ended up as a paid intern making acrylic jewellery sets in London after dropping out of Uni. - You gotta start somewhere!

I already knew that the 'conventional' route of life was not for me

School -> University -> Job

No Thank you!

But after doing that I KNEW it wasn't for me.

I never wanted to be in an office, sitting at a desk all day, with only one hour break.

[Side note] One hour?! Offices should have a mandatory hour and a half lunch break, to factor in leaving the dam building! You can't even get to a restaurant and back within an hour *okay rant over*

I did not envy the life of any person I knew that had an office job, a commute or a boss.

But working freelance I quickly realised I had another problem on my hands. I realised there was a cap on my income capacity.

24 hours a day 7 days a week - That's all you've got.

You can only fill up your days with so many clients before you hit burnout.

You can only raise the price of your services to a certain point before even you scoff at the number.

So how as a freelancer do you earn past your per hour capacity?

7 years searching and the one that it always comes back to (the one I will be writing about) is building a personal brand.

Entering the one person business space.

But how do you go from 0-1

Where do you start?

I've found the advice from self help books is counter productive when you are feeling lost in life

Start - You’ll figure it out along the way

*But…Where do I start?*

Anywhere, just start

*… but how?*

Pick something

*…. Pick WHAT?!*

Anything!

*No Ideas - Just FEAR*

I have been trying to find the answer to this question for the last 5 years. In the process I've collected more self help books than I care to admit. Purchased course after course after course that have sat un-touched in my inbox. As well as set ridiculous goals and given myself anxiety for once again failing to start.

Or even better I start something stick it out for about a week (if that!) and wonder why there are no results and quit.

It feels silly when you write it all out but the real answer...

You Are Not Going To Find The Answer In A Book!

No one can know where you are in your life

• Your fears

• Your dreams

• Your likes and dislikes

• Your financial situation

• Your beliefs

• Your family circumstances

..You are going to have to figure it out yourself.

Silver lining - You are capable of figuring it out!

Break It Down

My 2022 new years resolution was 'Less planning more action'

I have always fallen into the terrible trap of planning to plan.

Speaking about my goals and dreams so much that I am then too exhausted to execute. Dan Koe beautifully wrote about this as 'Mental Masturbation' and it's SO TRUE!

[Side Note: I understand ive quoted Dan Koe a lot throughout this #writercrush just bare with me... and if you haven't seen his work GO LOOK!]

It had come to the point where I realised I was all talk. This is never a fun realisation

Another year had passed and the goals I said I wanted to achieve were still sat there in the planning phase - I lie!

They were in the thinking phase - There wasn't even a plan.

This year has been going so well...I have been taking a lot of action behind the scenes but as we come to the end of 2022 I have found myself falling back into the planning to plan phase once again as I fear pushing the publish button.

I told myself I was going to launch yesterday and once again I made an excuse to delay hitting send.

The Fear

It's still there but today it's not getting in the way! I've had one too many reminders this week to START!

In the wise words of Dakota Robertson

So here we go!

The scariest thing I can be doing in my life right now is writing my first newsletter and clicking publish!

It's time to finally figure this all out - no more excuses!

Every Saturday I will be exploring the topics of self-awareness, creativity and human potential.

Focusing on how to start turning your curiosities into an income.

Sharing the process of building my one-person business so that I can help you build yours.

Here goes...Fuck it!

See you next week

Maja (pronounced 'My-Ah') Howard