#Beginnings

Progress Springs From Courage, Not Perfection

Moreover, pursuing perfection before we begin collides with how reality unfolds. The planning fallacy, identified by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky (1979), shows that humans routinely underestimate time, risk, and complexity. Likewise, Helmuth von Moltke’s maxim that “no plan survives first contact with the enemy” (c. 1871) captures a broader truth: the world answers back. Instead of grand designs, adaptive cycles win. Fighter pilot John Boyd’s OODA loop (1970s)—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—illustrates how small, rapid decisions outpace rigid blueprints. Progress, then, comes from updating our map as terrain reveals itself. [...]

Starting Is the Discipline That Changes Everything

If starting is the discipline, design it to be tiny. Implementation intentions—“If situation X, then behavior Y”—help automate beginnings (Peter Gollwitzer, 1999). Pair that with the 2‑Minute Rule from Getting Things Done (David Allen, 2001) or the Tiny Habits method (BJ Fogg, 2019): do the smallest actionable slice. For instance, “When I pour coffee, I open my draft,” or “At 6 p.m., I lace my shoes and step outside.” These micro-commitments convert vague resolve into concrete triggers, making the first move nearly effortless. [...]

Begin Anywhere - John Cage

This quote suggests that waiting for the perfect moment or having the 'right' starting point is unnecessary. It encourages taking action without being hindered by the desire for ideal conditions. [...]