The Imperfect Start
We’re conditioned to wait.
Wait for permission. Wait for timing. Wait for certainty.
But here’s the dirty little secret: certainty is a Ponzi scheme. We keep pumping our energy, talent, and time into the idea that someday we’ll feel “ready,” when in reality, “ready” only shows up after the first fire has already burned.
Think about it. When has anything meaningful in your life arrived with perfect timing, zero risk, and a guarantee of success? Never. Certainty isn’t a milestone; it’s a mirage. And the more you chase it, the more you stay stuck at the starting line, clutching your match like it’s a participation trophy.
The fire doesn’t come from the perfect plan. It comes from the imperfect start.
Jeff Bezos didn’t map out a trillion-dollar empire on a whiteboard before taking the plunge. He lit a match selling books online from his garage. That first flame looked humble, almost laughable. But a spark doesn’t need to look like a wildfire; it just needs oxygen and momentum.
Malala Yousafzai didn’t wait for the world to clear its throat and ask her to speak up. She lit a match when she said out loud what millions of girls were quietly thinking: we deserve an education. That spark didn’t just burn; it illuminated a global movement.
And Steve Jobs? The man didn’t wait for a polite nod from IBM or a market feasibility study signed in triplicate. He lit a match in his parents’ garage with a vision that computers shouldn’t be cold, lifeless machines—they should be personal.
Notice the pattern? Matches. Sparks. Flames.
The Myth of Readiness
We tell ourselves we’re waiting for the right time, but what we’re really waiting for is the right feeling. We think if we just gather more data, more confidence, more validation, we’ll feel “ready.”
That day never comes.
Readiness is a byproduct of action, not a prerequisite for it. You don’t build courage by thinking about it; you build courage by doing the damn thing—while your stomach churns and your hands shake.
The fire teaches you. It forces you to adapt, grow, and figure things out. No plan, no spreadsheet, no “ten steps to success” blog post will do that for you.
Light the Match
The world isn’t short on ideas. It’s short on matches.
You don’t need the approval of a board, a boss, or the Instagram algorithm to strike one. You just need to start. Start messy. Start scared. Start small. But start.
Because here’s the paradox: once you light the match, certainty starts to show up. Doors open. Allies appear. Opportunities you couldn’t even imagine materialize—not because the universe is magical, but because action signals to the world that you’re in the game.
You know what no one ever says at the end of their life?
“I wish I’d waited longer to try.”
But plenty of people whisper, “I wish I’d started sooner.”
Be Your Own Arsonist
Here’s the thing about fire: once you’ve built one, you understand how to build another. That’s how momentum works. One spark begets another.
The first product launch leads to the second.
The first awkward conversation about a raise leads to negotiating a better job.
The first small risk leads to a bigger one that changes the trajectory of your life.
Stop looking for a signal from the heavens. There is no permission slip. No guru. No magical alignment of stars that says, “Today is the day.”
The only thing standing between you and the life you want is the willingness to strike the damn match.
Final Spark
Waiting feels safe. But safety is a slow poison. It numbs you into believing you’ve got infinite tomorrows to do the thing you were meant to do today.
You don’t.
Bezos didn’t wait. Malala didn’t wait. Jobs didn’t wait. And you? You’re running out of excuses.
Grab the match. Strike it. Build something. Burn something down if you have to. Just stop waiting for certainty—it’s never coming.
And when the fire catches? Feed it. Because nothing changes until you light the damn match.