Be Bold…Begin

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I first encountered this quote on a trip to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. The small tan spiral-bound notebook we each received at the trip’s start included it, presumably to inspire us during and after the adventure.

The book contains famous quotes covering leadership, nature, and education, but this one stood out to me. It struck me as truth, resonating deeply and filling me with hope.

It’s been 30 years since I first read this quote. Reflecting on the years in between, I believe the word “boldness” is the secret sauce.

Beginnings

I’ve set many goals for myself: obtaining a college degree, starting a family, completing my MS degree, running a marathon, and establishing my own coaching business, to name a few. Each goal had a beginning; I didn’t have dozens of big goals, just a few.

I also had smaller goals. Every summer during our annual vacation to Door County, I took along my journal. At the beach or at a picnic table, I wrote about my hopes for the upcoming school year. In this writing, I came up with a focus and a goal for the family for the next school year, usually an activity to improve our lives.

For example, one year, we decided to include one special “family meal” night in our schedule. Everyone was home, no TV. We lit candles and made it a special time once a week. Another year, I simply created a weekly meal schedule to reduce decision-making. Mondays were pasta, Tuesdays were tacos, and so on.

Baby Steps

Before deciding to act on a goal, there can be hesitancy. There is the potential to stay put. I don’t need to tell anyone; I can stop.

When I decided to train for and run the marathon, I had thought about it for years. My 50th birthday, December 19th was the announcement day. I planned my training during the rest of the month and began the slow, steady process in the first week of January. Throughout the next several weeks, I met with a personal trainer and signed up for a 5K in March, and a half marathon in July.

But the important strategy in sticking with a goal is the ability to be content with baby steps.

I know that some people, even after starting a big project or lofty goal, can peter out. They tell friends and family of their plans and then, when asked about that goal weeks or months later, they claim some activity or event got them off course.

“Well, you know, with mom getting sick, I just haven’t had the time to focus on losing weight.”

or

“Yeah, unfortunately, Little Julie’s teacher asked me to be room mother, and now I just don’t have the time or energy to get my podcast going.”

It’s this thing called “quiet quitting.”

Fortunately, I don’t often fall into this gray area. I am usually content to move slowly and consistently forward. I’ve given thought to the goal and know that it won’t be completed overnight. But, little by little, I’ll get there. This was truly the case when I trained for the marathon. I said that my running style was much like ” a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter– but I run!”

Finishing

I love activities with a clear beginning and end. A finish line sets me up for success. A clear date or timeframe gives me the motivation to stick with a project.

I trained for the marathon for 11 months. My home goals were always based on a 10-month school calendar. My business goals have a monetary yardstick.

Recently, I read an interesting book called The 12 Week Year that challenges readers to set short objectives. It focuses on the “execution” part of a goal in a shorter time frame, eliminating dead weeks or months. With a shorter working period, each day, each week is important. Then, after 12 weeks, you choose another aim, direction, or goal and begin again.

I’ve set a goal for the new podcast “Sidetracked Stories,” which has an end date of only 12 weeks.

There is a two-year base of work that I am using as a foundation for this podcast. My fellow Sidetracked Sisters and I have planned the next season, and we’re ready to implement some fun changes.

All that needs to happen is for me to be bold…

and begin.

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