Start Anywhere: The Simple Secret to Getting Moving
What if the best place to start isn’t the beginning? Even a laundry basket proves it, you can start anywhere.
Let’s say it’s laundry day. You’ve got a basket of clean clothes to put away. The pile is neat, organized, and ready. Here’s the question. When it comes to starting, where do you begin?
Do you reach for the clothes at the bottom, somewhere in the middle, or the top? No, this isn’t a trick question. You can start anywhere.
But most of us start at the top. We pick up the first shirt, fold it, and move to the next. It’s simple, sequential, and satisfying.
So what does this tell us about starting anything new—a business, a fitness routine, or a creative project? Maybe the secret isn’t where you start, but that you start.
The Overwhelm of Too Many Starting Points
When we begin something meaningful, like launching a new idea or project, it’s rarely as tidy as that laundry basket.
There’s no obvious “top of the pile.” Instead, we see a dozen possible places to begin, and that mental clutter creates hesitation.
Marketing expert Seth Godin often writes about the fear that stops us from beginning. He says perfectionism and hesitation are just ways we hide from doing the work. As he puts it, “Waiting for perfect is never as smart as making progress.” (The Practice)
Author Steven Pressfield, in The War of Art, calls this inner force “Resistance,” that invisible enemy of creative action. Whatever you call it, the effect is the same: it keeps us from starting.
Recently, I was staring at my own metaphorical basket, a project with no clear first step. Tasks swirled in my head, all important and none clearly “first.” I felt stuck until I imagined lining them up in a single file. Then, I simply took the first task in line, not the most important or the most urgent, just the first.
Do that one. Move to the next. Repeat. The result? Momentum.
The Power of the Front of the Line
Not every project requires strict order. If you’re building a house, of course you lay the foundation before the roof. But in most creative or personal projects, the steps are more flexible. Take writing this article, for example.
Where did this article start? With pen and paper?
To complete this task, my list might include:
Find a pen
Sit at my desk
Write the first paragraph
Edit
Add a photo
Technically, I could start with any of those. Maybe finding a photo first sparks inspiration. Maybe writing one messy paragraph helps me figure out what I really want to say. The point is that momentum matters more than sequence.
As author Jon Acuff writes in Start, “You don’t need to be perfect to begin; you just need to begin.” That first imperfect motion—grabbing the top shirt or any shirt—creates progress.
And progress generates energy.
Choose Energy Over Order
Sometimes the best starting point isn’t the first step; it’s the most energizing one.
Ask yourself: Which task gives me a little spark? Which one feels light, fun, or motivating?
By leading with energy, you’re not just making progress; you’re fueling your willingness to keep going. Think of it as emotional momentum. You’re building belief through action.
When I start a project, I often begin with the task that feels easiest or most inspiring. Once I’m in motion, the harder or more tedious steps seem far less intimidating.
The Freedom to Start Anywhere
Maybe today, that means opening a blank document and typing one sentence. Maybe it’s picking a playlist to inspire your next workout. Maybe it’s signing up for the class you’ve been overthinking.
Whatever your “basket of tasks” looks like, you don’t have to pick the perfect item to start with. You just have to pick one.
Try This: Your “Start Anywhere” Challenge
Pick a project you’ve been avoiding or overthinking.
List every task—big or small—that comes to mind.
Close your eyes and point to one. Start there.
That’s it. You’ve started. And as you do, remember this: your first step doesn’t have to be the right one; it just has to be real.
Because once you start, everything else gets easier.
