There’s a strange mix of excitement and panic that hits the moment you say yes to something new. Whether it’s a project you’ve never tried, a client in a field you know little about, or an idea that feels way too big for where you are right there is where your growth hides.
I remember the first time I said yes to a project I didn’t feel ready for. It was a SharePoint automation task that involved approvals, multiple departments, and more moving parts than a holiday parade. My brain went, “You’re out of your mind.” But my gut whispered, “Do it anyway.” That whisper changed everything.
That First Step Is Never Pretty
Let’s be honest, starting something brand new never feels smooth. You’ll second-guess yourself. You’ll feel like everyone else already knows what they’re doing. You’ll even think about backing out.
But here’s what I’ve learned: no one ever really knows everything when they start. People who look confident are usually just good at learning as they go. The trick is to move before you feel completely ready. Waiting for perfect conditions means you’ll wait forever.
That first messy step gets your momentum started. After that, it’s easier to keep going not because it’s less scary, but because you’ve already seen you survive the first wave of fear.
How I Learned to Make Fear My Signal
I used to see fear as a stop sign. Now, I treat it like a GPS alert. When something scares me, it means I’m heading somewhere new, and new usually means growth.
That zing that spark that makes you feel alive again shows up right after the fear. You just must get through the shaky beginning to feel it.
One time, I was handed a website redesign project for a client in an industry I’d never worked with. I almost said no. But curiosity beat fear. I started by asking questions, sketching, researching what made their customers tick. And you know what? That nervous energy turned into creativity. Fear became focus.
How to Approach Something You’ve Never Done Before
Here’s the truth: the unknown feels big until you break it down.
Here’s my personal checklist for jumping into new waters without drowning:
Start with what you know. Write down what skills or knowledge you already have that can apply. You’ll be surprised how much overlaps.
- Ask better questions. Curiosity builds confidence. Don’t be afraid to say, “I’m not sure but I can find out.” That’s how real experts think.
- Break it into pieces. Large projects feel impossible because we try to see the entire mountain at once. Focus on one rock, one hill, one day at a time.
- Find your motivator. That zing is your emotional fuel. Maybe it’s pride, maybe it’s curiosity, maybe it’s wanting to prove something to yourself. Name it and use it.
- Accept mistakes early. You will get things wrong, and that’s okay. Every “oops” moment becomes part of your experience toolkit.
- Celebrate mini wins. The first working test, the first successful draft, or the first compliment they all count. Reward yourself for each one.
What Not to Do When Facing Something New
Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way (and yes, I’ve done all of these):
- Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. You’re seeing their progress, not their chaos.
- Don’t overplan. Preparation matters but spending weeks making a perfect plan can be another form of fear. Start, then adjust.
- Don’t wait for motivation. Motivation is like the weather, it changes daily. Build habits that work even when you don’t feel inspired.
- Don’t hide when you struggle. Talk to someone who’s done something similar. Most people love sharing advice if you just ask.
Why “Zing” Matters
You know that energy rushes when you get a new idea and can’t stop thinking about it? That’s your zing. Its excitement mixed with fear, wrapped in possibility. The challenge is keeping that energy going long enough to finish.
When things get hard, your zing will fade and that’s normal. That’s where consistency steps in. You don’t need to feel inspired every day. You just need to show up. The zing comes back once progress starts showing up too.
If you can get through that middle slump the messy, uncertain, “Why did I start this?” phase that’s when confidence starts to stick.
The Beauty of “First Times”
Think back to anything you’ve ever done well now the first time you drove, the first job you worked, even the first big risk you took. None of those started smoothly. But each one taught you something that became part of your toolkit for life.
Every “first time” you say yes to something new expands what’s possible next time. And each one brings a little less fear and a lot more trust in yourself.
So, when that next idea shows up the one that feels a little too big, a little too new, or a little too scary say yes. You don’t need to know every answer to begin. You just need the courage to start.
Trying something new is never about having all the answers. It’s about trusting that you’ll figure them out as you go. Every expert once stood where you are unsure, nervous, and wondering if they could pull it off.
- Don’t aim for perfect. Aim for progress.
- Don’t wait to be ready. Be willing to learn.
- And don’t hide from fear. Let it guide you to your next level.
When you start embracing new ideas instead of running from them, life opens in ways you couldn’t plan and that’s where your real zing lives.