"I'm not ready yet."

This is the lie that kept me stuck the longest.

"I need to learn more first." "I'm still building my skills." "Once I finish this course, then I'll start."

Here's what's actually happening when you say this: You're hiding.

Getting ready is the most productive-looking form of hiding that exists. You're busy. You're learning. You're preparing. From the outside, it looks like effort.

But nothing is being built.

I spent years getting ready. Books about business. Courses. Webinars. YouTube videos about how to build a business—instead of actually building one.

And here's the thing about the preparation lie: it's infinitely renewable. There's always more to learn. Another skill. Another certification. The goalpost moves forever.

"I'll be ready after this course." → Got the course. "Well, I need practical experience." → Got experience. "But I should understand the market better." → And on and on.

The truth nobody tells you: You will never feel ready.

Readiness isn't a feeling you get before you start. It's a result of starting. You feel ready once you've been doing the thing for a while. Not before.

If you've been "preparing" for more than a few months, you're not preparing. You're hiding.

The fix is simple: Set a deadline for preparation. One week. One month. Then start, ready or not.

The people you admire who seem like they have it all figured out? They started before they were ready too. They just started.

Done negotiating.

-Joel