You Don't Need Permission

Towards the end of his book The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau writes:

I love this line because it tackles head on the trap so many of us fall into. Especially those of us who want to do things the “right” way.

We read the books.

We watch the videos.

We take the courses.

We listen to the podcasts.

And all of that can be genuinely helpful… until it quietly turns into a substitute for action.

At some point, “learning” starts becoming a crutch.

Enough is enough.

No book, video, coach, or course can actually tell you to go.

They can provide helpful frameworks. They can share examples. They can shorten the learning curve. But none of them can flip the switch for you.

That decision only comes from you (and preferably with consensus from your spouse if you want to stay on speaking terms).

If you’re waiting for a moment where you feel fully informed and fully qualified, you’ll be waiting forever.

Books are tools. Not hall passes.

I recently pulled The $100 Startup off my bookshelf again as I’ve been working on a series of short book reviews for my YouTube channel. They are part of a 30-day challenge hosted by Pat Flynn, who just so happened to release his own book last year that’s all about resisting advice-overload and prioritizing action. It’s called Lean Learning, and I highly recommend you grab a copy.

Together, these two books provide a great backbone for an action-based business.

You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect. You don’t need a massive capital investment, credentials, or a complicated plan. There are countless stories that prove you can start small, start cheap, and build something real that supports you and your family.

But don’t just read the stories. Start writing your own.

Start small. Start imperfect. Start now.

Take it one step at a time. And if you get stuck and you need more information and guidance to figure out the next part, it will be there for you.

There will always be another book to read.

Another video to watch.

Another expert with a slightly better framework.

But you can’t get better if you never start.

What’s one small step you’ve been postponing because you told yourself you needed “just a little more” information first. And what would it look like to take that step this week?

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