First Steps and Conquering Daunting Tasks

Recently I read this quote on Twitter: “Taking the first step is hard, but if you don’t start to plan, you will never get into control of your project.” Thinking about taking first steps instantly made me think about repelling.

 My first experience with repelling was when I was thirteen. My youth group and I went to an abandoned bridge in the middle of the San Bernardino Mountains, harnessed up, and got ready to go. I remember being so excited. Five or six of my friends went first and had a blast. When it was finally my turn, I got to the bridge’s edge and saw the task that laid before me: a 130 foot free-fall to a rocky and shallow river beneath. Usually you repel down the side of a mountain, with somewhere to place your feet; such is not so when repelling off a bridge. There was a man stationed for belaying below, but all I could think about was how in the world I was supposed to just hang in the air, on a rope, and not die.

 In an effort to be brave, I stepped over the railing to the outside of the bridge, holding on to the rail for dear life. Everyone around me was telling me what I needed to do, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t let go of the rail and take my first step down. I was too scared of what would happen between letting go and the ground and I couldn’t see how I was going to conquer this task.

 The same overwhelming feeling that I got when repelling sometimes hits me when I have a long list of tasks to complete at work – or an especially challenging project to tackle. Sometimes I even feel so threatened by all that I have to do, that my first reaction is to avoid it all as long as possible. But, we all know that avoidance isn’t an effective way to get work done. So, what do we do when the work ahead of us looks daunting and unconquerable at first sight?

 For me, there is only one method that really works: making a plan that breaks things down. Revolutionary, I know. This is obviously not a new idea, but I think it often gets overlooked when it probably should be turned to first. If I can break my projects or tasks into smaller, more attainable steps, I am much more apt to feel confident in my ability to complete my work on time and in good quality. This may mean that I write down all of the seemingly insignificant parts of a task: send an e-mail to so-and-so, set-up a meeting with him-or-her, submit specks for approval, etc. Even checking the small parts of your work off a to-do list makes it feel like you’ve accomplished more and gives you a better feeling of control – making it that much easier to take those crucial first steps.

 It wasn’t until I was able to take things step-by-step that I was empowered to let go of the bridge railing and gradually get my grip on the rope and on what I was doing. The first few minutes of the descent may have been slow and awkward, but I was eventually able to get the hang of things and make it to the ground like a confident pro. Every attempt after that was no sweat off my back, and what once was a burning ball of anxiety turned into something quite enjoyable.