Failure Required

The Phases of Starting Something New

Starting something new in life—whether it’s a routine, a business, or a personal challenge—comes in phases. First, there’s the idea. Maybe it was inspired by something you learned or something you thought up yourself. Then comes the learning phase, where you research and understand the steps necessary to bring that idea to life.

The learning phase is crucial. You must learn before you sell, just as you must learn before lifting heavy weights at the gym. Knowledge is a prerequisite for success. However, the learning phase is also a trap—one where many people get stuck.

We’ve all been there. Watching YouTube video after YouTube video, listening to podcast after podcast, reading book after book. But what’s the point of another podcast if you haven’t implemented anything from the first? Why read a second book when you never applied what you learned in the first?

The Best Way to Learn is to Do

The title says it all. Too often, we treat learning as if it’s action. It feels like progress, but in reality, we’re in the same place. While learning does move you forward to a point, eventually, you have to stop consuming and start doing.

At some point, you must put down the book, stop listening to that podcast, and apply the things you’ve learned. You will either succeed or learn from failure. But failure is only failure if you quit—it’s merely a lesson otherwise.

This concept is discussed in-depth by Alex Hormozi and Chris Williamson on Modern Wisdom. They refer to “Mental Masturbation,” a term used to describe the process of endlessly consuming information without taking action. This tricks your mind into believing you’re accomplishing something, even when you haven’t moved forward at all.

Nothing to Lose

Chris Williamson shares how he didn’t get a single view in the early days of his podcast, yet he continued. Today, he is one of the top podcasters in the world. Despite no audience at first, he learned, improved, and ultimately succeeded.

Alex Hormozi echoes this sentiment—just start. Learn as you go. If you send 1,000 cold emails and receive no replies, you haven’t lost anything. But in the process, you’ve probably gotten better at writing emails. Eventually, someone will respond.

You negate luck with volume. The more you try, the higher your chances of success. And rejection? That’s just part of the process. Every “no” gets you closer to a “yes.”

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

I struggled with this concept for a long time. As I discussed in Who Am I?, I once received a simple “No, and please don’t email me again,” and I let it completely stop me. Instead of seeing it as a sign to refine my approach, I saw it as proof that I would never be successful.

That was the wrong mindset.

Rejection isn’t the end—it’s feedback. It’s an opportunity to adapt and improve. The real failure is quitting before you give yourself a chance to succeed.

So if you’re in the learning phase, be mindful of how long you stay there. Absorb knowledge, but don’t let it replace action. Because the best way to learn? It’s to do.

Final Thoughts

Starting something new will always come with uncertainty, but the biggest mistake you can make is never starting at all. There will never be a “perfect” time, and you will never feel completely ready. The most successful people aren’t the ones who knew everything before they began; they are the ones who learned as they went.

Every step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goal. Stop waiting, stop over-preparing, and start doing. The lessons you’ll learn through experience will always outweigh the knowledge you gain from consuming content endlessly. Take action, embrace the setbacks, and trust that every effort you make is shaping your success.