Anything Worth Doing

As I have begun this journey of finally starting my own learning and development company, I have been searching for ideas, inspiration, and quotes that help motivate me when I feel overwhelmed, terrified, or just plain tired. I have recently found a few that helps with my need to do everything well and perfectly before I “go live” or “publish the course.”

Here’s a couple…

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” – G. K. Chesterton

“Anything that’s worth doing is worth doing poorly” – Joachim DePosada

And finally…

“Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly– until you can learn to do it well.” -Zig Ziglar

When did we stop accepting mistakes and defeat? When did it become more important to only take on the things we knew we could do well, rather than trying something new so we could grow?

I think if you are like me, maybe you found that you gave up on trying something new in high school or even middle school. As we got older, we settled into only doing the things that felt safe or familiar and for which we knew we could excel.

It wasn’t until I was inspired to do Spartan racing that I had to come to terms with the fact that I would perform fairly poorly. I would need help to get over those taller walls or complete the herculean hoist and that I would completely miss the spear throw. So why did I do it? Because there’s something immensely empowering about doing something not because I knew I could be the best or even okay. I think it was seeing the faces of my kids and my husband and friends after they had completed the race. It’s about the adventure of being on the course and not knowing what will happen next. It’s about the camaraderie you experience, even with strangers, who help you and whom you help along the way. And it’s about pushing yourself, even when it’s hard, even when it hurts, even when you don’t know if you’ll succeed…

Really it’s about life. It’s a microcosm of living life. When you live full out, you don’t know what’s around the corner. You don’t know what challenge or hurdle you might face and who you’ll meet along the way that will be a hero for you… or for whom you may be the hero for.

So I took the leap of starting this business knowing that even when I find that next great company to work for, I still want to have my own voice in the world. One that is completely my view and my contribution.

I know there is a company out there who needs me to build and sustain their learning and development strategy and team. I am ready for that. But in the meantime, I am embracing this opportunity, this crazy challenge and hurdle, of leaving a legacy of learning and empowerment that is uniquely my own.

I hope you find those things that you are willing to “do poorly until you learn to do it well.” I know I have a journey ahead in learning the ins and outs of blogging, developing an online school, and using social media to connect with others. But I will get there because I am willing to “do it poorly” (for now).

To your success!