Gradually, Then All at Once
Every book here started as an idea. So did mine.
What Publishing My Book Taught Me About Starting
So I published a book. My experience of writing it could best be described as gradually… and then all at once. About 98% of the process was the “gradually” part. Then last Monday—that was the “all at once.” And that got me thinking:
Do we make starting something way bigger in our minds than it really is?
The Book That Sat on My Computer
Here’s the backstory. I wrote this book over a year ago. It was done. Proofed. Ready to publish. And then…I didn’t.
Maybe I thought it could be better. Maybe I doubted whether it was ready. Maybe I decided the timing wasn’t right. Whatever the reason, the file just sat on my computer. Ninety-eight percent finished. That was my long gradually phase.
The Decision to Finally Start
Then, eight days ago, something shifted. On a Sunday afternoon, I had the idea to finally publish the book.
Within thirty minutes, I’d pictured the title, imagined the cover, and decided: Tomorrow, it goes live.
That seemed…impossible. Publish a book in one day? But here’s what I realized: the only thing stopping me was how big it seemed.
As Seth Godin wrote in Poke the Box (2011), “The hard part isn’t starting—it’s deciding to start.” And that was my turning point. I decided to start, even if I didn’t know exactly how it would unfold.
One Step at a Time
So last Monday morning, I began. I uploaded the manuscript into Atticus, my book-formatting software. Then I designed the cover in Canva—something simple, intentionally.
By 5 p.m., the book was uploaded to Amazon’s KDP platform, and I’d ordered a proof copy that night. All of this happened in a single day.
Holding the proof copy of What Do You Believe?
What I Learned About Starting
1. Challenge Your Assumptions
I had assumed publishing a book couldn’t happen in one day. And usually, that’s true. But usually isn’t always. When you start, you realize many of your limits are self-imposed.
2. Do One Thing at a Time
There were tons of moving parts—layout, design, pricing—but I didn’t do them all at once.
Momentum comes from focus, not multitasking.
3. Be Realistic, Not Perfect
If I’d tried to create the “perfect” version, I’d still be waiting. As Mel Robbins says in The 5 Second Rule (2017), “You’re never going to feel ready. You’re never going to feel motivated. You just have to start.” That was exactly it. Once I started, everything flowed.
The Power of Just Starting
Three days later, my proof copy arrived in the mail. Holding it in my hands felt incredible. Not because it was perfect, but because it was real. On Sunday, it was just an idea. By Thursday, it was real. Starting creates momentum. Momentum builds confidence. And confidence fuels more action.
Before You Go, Start Your Thing
What’s your version of the book sitting on your computer? Maybe it’s a project, a course, a creative idea, or a new chapter of life you’ve been waiting to begin. You don’t need the perfect plan or the perfect timing. You just need to start.
So here’s your invitation: Pick one small step you can take today—and do it.
