We all admire greatness—the smooth precision of a Cristiano Ronaldo header or Michael Jordan's dominance on the basketball court. But there’s a blind spot in our admiration. We see the championships, the trophies, the spotlight—but we rarely ask, “What did it take to get there?”
Michael Jordan wasn’t always the GOAT. In fact, as a high school sophomore, he was cut from his varsity team and told he wasn’t good enough. Instead of giving up, he trained harder, grew six inches over the summer, and returned to become the state’s best player.
Cristiano Ronaldo? His journey began in near-hopeless circumstances. His parents couldn’t afford another child and even considered abortion. But eight-year-old Ronaldo, already at rock bottom, refused to stay there.
Both legends faced failures, criticism, and doubt. But they started.
The Fear of Starting
How often have you heard someone say, “I’ll start after things settle down” or “I need to get everything in place first”? Most don't have a clear plan when asked how they’ll pursue their dream later. Why? Because the fear of starting holds them back.
Fear whispers that you’re not ready, that others will judge you, or that failure will follow. But here’s the truth: no one ever starts at 100. You start at zero, and every small step builds from there.
Greatness isn’t achieved overnight. It’s a process of going from 0 to 0.1, then 0.1 to 0.2. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and full of failures. But here’s the thing: failure isn’t the end—it’s the fuel.
Turning Fear Into Fuel
Michael Jordan could have stopped playing basketball altogether when he got cut from the team. Instead, he used that setback as motivation to work harder than ever before. His persistence transformed failure into success.
Cristiano Ronaldo faced relentless criticism, even from the man who believed in him the most, Sir Alex Ferguson. Instead of letting it break him, Ronaldo embraced the challenge, listened to the feedback, and used it to improve.
This is the pattern of all great achievers: they don’t let fear paralyze them. They don’t avoid criticism. They listen, they adapt, and they persist.
Why You Must Start
You may have a dream—a business idea, a creative project, a career move. But if you never take that first step, you’ll never know what’s possible.
Starting doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. It doesn’t mean you won’t stumble. But starting is the only way to go from dream to reality.
Michael Jordan didn’t win his first NBA championship until his eighth year in the league. Ronaldo didn’t become the player we know today until he put in years of disciplined effort. Every success story starts with a single step.
What’s Your First Step?
Right now, there’s something you want to pursue, but fear is holding you back. It’s time to silence that fear. Start small. Take action. The first step might not feel glamorous, but it’s the most important one you’ll ever take.
Remember: You can’t finish what you don’t start.
I would love to know your commitment to start your journey.
Email me at rochan@rochankakar.com and I will respond.
Cheers!
Rochan
