I used to think I needed to figure everything out before starting anything meaningful. You know that feeling – wanting to have your entire life mapped out, everything in place, and every possible obstacle anticipated. I always felt I needed to keep watching videos or reading more to gain knowledge before making any move.
But the truth I’ve come to realize is that there’s no better way of learning than by doing. When you start a project, or whatever you intend to do with the little knowledge you’ve gathered, you will make mistakes, fail, and eventually learn and improve along the way.
The approach of waiting to have everything figured out before starting is what holds most of us back.
Take driving a car, for example. No amount of reading driving manuals or watching “How to Drive” videos on YouTube can prepare you for the moment when you have to actually navigate a tight and busy road during rush hour.
The anxiety of seeing other vehicles switching lanes without indicators, the fear of a trailer coming up behind you and blasting its thunderous horn, the nerve-wracking moments when a bus squeezes into an impossibly tight space and comes so close to you that you’re sure it will hit you – these are all parts of the learning process that you can’t fully grasp until you actually start driving. Those initial fearful moments will transform into confident driving skills through practice, not theory.
The same goes for writing, singing, speaking, and countless other skills. You don’t master these endeavors by just reading or watching videos about them. You learn and improve through doing.
The approach of learning by doing works for everything – whether you’re learning digital skills, starting that small business you’ve been dreaming about, or building your social media presence.
The truth is, many young Nigerians are stuck in the preparation phase, endlessly attending seminars and webinars, buying courses, and collecting certificates without ever actually starting. Hands-on experience will help you understand concepts more deeply, retain information longer, and develop real-world skills.
So, the next time you’re trying to master something new, don’t just read about it or watch videos. Get out there and do it. Experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. That’s how you truly become an expert. Remember, the best way to learn is by rolling up your sleeves and diving in.
Action Steps to Get Started
- Start That Thing Today: Pick something you’ve been postponing because you feel you’re not ready – whether it’s that online business, YouTube channel, or tech skill you want to learn. That’s your starting point.
- Break It Down Into Small Goals: Don’t try to become Dangote overnight. Start small. If you’re learning how to write, for example, begin with short posts and gradually move on to longer articles as you improve.
- Keep a Progress Journal: Document your journey. Note what works and what doesn’t. This isn’t just about tracking errors; it’s about building your personal knowledge base.
- Find an Accountability Partner: Connect with someone else who’s building something too. It could be a friend from university or someone from your church or mosque. Share your progress, challenges, and wins with them.
- Celebrate Your Wins: Did you get your first customer or land your first foreign client? Did someone share your article? Celebrate these moments before tackling the next challenge.
- Create a Daily Schedule: Even if it’s just one hour daily, commit to making consistent progress on your project. Consistency is key, and a daily schedule will help you achieve it.
Remember, every successful person you look up to today started exactly where you are – as a beginner who was brave enough to start. They didn’t wait until everything was perfect.
Let me tell you something personal: when I look back at my first writing jobs for international clients, I sometimes laugh at myself. Some of those articles that earned me 5-star ratings back then – if I wrote them today, I wouldn’t even show them to anyone. That’s how much I’ve grown.
But here’s the thing – those “not-so-perfect” articles were necessary steps in my journey. Every piece I wrote taught me something new. Every client’s feedback helped me improve. If I had waited until I could write “perfectly,” I would still be waiting today – with no portfolio, no happy clients, and no real experience.
The question now hits closer to home: What will you start building today? That business idea you’ve been sitting on, that skill you want to learn, that project you keep postponing – what’s really holding you back? No more waiting for the “right time” or saying, “Let me finish one more course first.” Those are just fancy excuses. The time to start is now.
