Don't wait until you're ready.

Waiting for the right time doesn't work. Waiting until you feel ready, or comfortable, doesn't work. Waiting until everything is perfect doesn't work. I mean heck, maybe that's worked for you, but it definitely doesn't work for me. Back in my younger years, I was quite the perfectionist. I didn't want to launch a website until it was perfect, or exhibit a painting until my skills were perfect. The problem with this is, that if your taste level is higher than your skill level, you're never ever going to be what you consider perfect. This is a blessing and a curse. A curse, because you'll always know that you can be better. A blessing, because you'll always strive to be better.

What I've come to realise is that there's nothing wrong with this equation. Striving to be better is awesome, we should all aim higher. The only difference is, we shouldn't let that search for perfection stop us from doing things in the mean time. Start that business you've been thinking about, write that novel, apply for that job. Because if we wait until we're ready or perfect, we will never ever get anything done. The key is jumping in. Which is an extremely uncomfortable feeling.

When I got my first job in advertising, I wasn't ready. And it was scary as hell. Every single day I was way out of my comfort zone. And because of that, I learnt a hell of a lot, extremely fast. And eventually, I knew everything I could learn from the place, and I was comfortable there. Funnily enough, when I left the job two years later, I wasn't ready to leave. Full time employment is safe and cozy and awful. But I knew I had to leave, and it was terrifying.

When I signed up for the World's Greatest Shave, I was not ready to shave my head. But I knew I had to do it, whether I looked hideous or not, somehow I knew I had to. It was bloody terrifying, but after that hair came off, I was so thankful that I'd had the courage to do it. The scariest things are by far the most rewarding.

When I was invited to participate in my first art exhibition, I said no. Why? Because I wasn't ready yet. I wasn't good enough. All I'd ever wanted at that point was to be invited into a group show, and when it landed on my lap I was too scared to do it. Luckily for me, I was given a second chance a few months later. And I reluctantly said yes. Just as terrified as I was the first time, but I knew that not participating was even scarier. And after the bandaid was ripped off, my comfort zone had expanded and I was no longer terrified of exhibiting my art.

The lesson I've learnt is that usually the scarier something is, and the less ready you feel about it, the more you need to take that leap and do it. I'm definitely not ready to do a solo exhibition, so I just booked one in for next year. Shitting my pants, but I now have enough faith in myself to know that it'll be okay.

What aren't you ready to do yet? If you need a push, let this be a sign that it's time to go for it!