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How to Conquer the Hardest Part of Any Project: Getting Started

Katie Corbett holds the book, "The Power of Who"

By Katie Corbett

When I decided to work on my garment project, the hardest part wasn’t figuring out the design, nor was it finding the right people to work with me. The biggest challenge was getting started. Of course, the first step to accomplishing anything is starting in the first place.

In “The Power of Who,” Bob Beaudine says that one of the qualities of a successful person is pushing past whatever holds you back and beginning. Here are some questions I have found helpful to reflect on when beginning any new endeavor:

• What is causing my hesitation?
• What is the absolute first step I need to take in order to start?
• What materials, skills and abilities do I already possess?
• What materials, skills and abilities do I still need?
• Where can I obtain what I need?
• Do I need to bring anyone else on board in order to begin?
• Where can I find the people I need?
• How will I track my progress, successes and learning experiences throughout the life of the project?
• What systems can I put into place to keep my enthusiasm alive for this project?
• What will I do if my time, energy or enthusiasm changes as I work on this project?

Answering these questions, either on paper or in my head, assists me in determining the steps and scope of an upcoming project. I hope they will help you, too.

What new projects are you starting? I would love to know. Feel free to leave it in the comments. Don’t be afraid to begin! You can do it!

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Turning Failure and Mistakes into Success

Katie Corbett holds the book, "The Power of Who"

By Katie Corbett

You might have heard about the importance of failure and learning from your mistakes. Often, it is our greatest failures that teach us how to be successful. In the moment, especially after a grueling defeat, it can be hard to keep that in mind.

“The Power of Who,” by Bob Beaudine, asserts that being able to move forward in the face of failure is an important characteristic of a successful person. Some questions I try to ask myself after failure are:

• In what ways did I cause or allow this to happen
• What happened that was out of my control?
• What have I learned about myself as a result of this experience?
• What have I learned about others, if applicable, after this experience?
• Is there something I can do differently next time?
• What are positives I can take from this situation?
• How has this situation made me stronger?
• What will I need in order to move forward?
• Who can I ask for help and advice?
• What could I learn more about so I can avoid this happening again?

It is my hope that by asking yourself these questions after a setback, it will be easier and quicker to move forward. Failure and mistakes are, unfortunately, a part of life. The sooner we can learn to work through them, the better it will be for our physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being.

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Having a Mindset of Moving Mountains

Katie Corbett holds the book, "The Power of Who"

By Katie Corbett

It is a fact of life that when you are working on a project, road-blocks are bound to come up. Instead of seeing these obstacles as a sign to give up, it is important to view them as another challenge that will, in the end, make you a better person and contribute to future success.

In the book, “The Power of Who,” Bob Beaudine lists the ability to overcome obstacles as a hallmark of a successful person. Some questions I ask myself when I encounter a challenge are:

• What can I personally do to mitigate this obstacle?
• Who can I reach out to who might be able to help?
• If I don’t currently know anyone who could help, what qualities and skills might this person need to have and where could I find such a person?
• Is there another way of looking at this challenge?
• What are the positives that could come as a result of this road-block?
• What am I learning about myself, others, or my project?
• Are there any “off the beaten path” solutions I have yet to consider?
• What will I lose by needing to work through this issue?
• What will I gain?
• How have I overcome challenges in the past?

It is my hope that, if you are facing an obstacle right now, this list of questions can get you out of analysis paralysis and onto a solution. Keep staying the course and striving for your dreams. You might take an unexpected detour or two along the way. That is okay. Move forward one day, one challenge, one step at a time. Eventually you will see the fruits of your labor.

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