Advice for N00bs

 

So, you’ve found yourself a part of the Start Experiment. You’re probably overwhelmed by everything, right? We’re here to help! Here’s some advice from the first class of the Start Experiment! Make your own way, and the Start Alums are here to help if you need us!

General advice
Feeling Discouraged
Risks
Practical Tips

 

General Advice

Kim Fortenberry: Embrace everything. The community. The crazy. The encouragement. The ideas. The party planning. All of it.

Rick Theule:  Take joy in each step you make, no matter how big or small.

Sarah Mudd:  Know who you are and focus on being that– realize it means you will have to say no to other things. Focus on what gets you where you want to go, not what everyone else is doing!

Jason Sprague:  Take chances, fail, learn from it, repeat.

Randy Langley:  I am kind of busy so I had Mark Batterson write this for me ….. “I tend to live the way I drive, I want to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time and by the easiest route possible. But I have come to realize that getting where God wants me to go isn’t nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process. And God seems to be far less concerned with where I’m going then with whom I am becoming.” (from Wild Goose Chase)

Michelle Discavage:  You will get out of it what you invest into it.

David Gibson: Don’t ever tell yourself, “I’ll just do it later.” By the time you realize it, it’s 24 days later and you just missed out on something huge.

Rob Kaiser:  While there may not be dragons and a need to use your machete, there will be plenty of adventure. Take advantage of the chances to connect with people as the opportunities present themselves. There will be many opportunities, but follow your heart and let yourself be guided to spend time corresponding with people that “feel right.” If some kind of correspondence with someone “feels wrong” for whatever reason, be sure to communicate that to the other person. Most of all, remember that this is an online forum and that these relationships are simply that…online relationships, unless you make them something other than that. There *will* be “haters” and people who bring you down. Edit those people from your life and focus on the people who contribute healthy, positive and beneficial effects to yourself and the group. Most of all…enjoy the experience and learn from it. Your goals and risks will undoubtedly change over the course of the 24 days. It is highly likely that you will not accomplish your the goal that you set out to accomplish – but it is also highly likely that you will achieve more than you normally would have if you were *not* part of The Start Experiment. Share openly and honestly and you will be rewarded with results that will exceed your expectations.

Juliann Rager:  This is a sacred place. The world is mean, not so in this group. Set aside judgment and pick up encouragement. Even if people are corny and lame, don’t post that.

Corie Clark:  Let others inspire you. Join subgroups to get more individualized help and advice.  If you get behind, don’t try to “catch up” just start again where you are.

Brian Davis:  DO NOT be intimidated by the magnitude of the AWESOMENESS you are about to experience!

Cindy August: Keep your machete (the community) nearby at all times. There be dragons (fears) for slaying!

Karen Warren:  Define success and failure for yourself in a healthy way. It’s only 24 days. It’s a START experiment, not a complete and be done experiment. That is not an excuse to create a facade for your fears and say, “This is just how I defined success for myself.” Be self-aware and honest.

Ebonita Sonnetbird: You will learn more about yourself than any topic or goal you may reach for or attain. You will begin to see that what you can do far outweighs what you think you can’t do. And that no matter how big or crazy or weird your dream is, it’s *your* dream – don’t let anyone talk you out of it.

Tammy Fuller:  It’s not a project, it’s a process. Embrace it.

Tammy Helfrich:  Be yourself. Learn from others, but don’t become distracted or compare yourself to them. Support and encourage others as much as you can. Starters are rare, and worth the investment.

Alex Barker:  Join this group to help others. If that’s your goal, your return on investment will be ten fold

Julie Padilla:  Enjoy the ride.

Sandy Pipkin:  For me, being a newbie WAS the experiment. It made me reach out and form connections.

Ryan Westbrooks:  Be vulnerable. Tell your story. Be honest. Ask for help. Learn from others. Listen. Give encouragement. Celebrate success. Keep moving. REPEAT.

Ronne Rock:  All this and more. Savor every moment. Keep a sense of wonder. Stumble and laugh about it. And don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you” along the way. Oh, and find the one – that one person in this community that you can be yourself with. The one person you can message at bizarre hours without fear of judgment. The one who knows the risk – and maybe the bigger risk. You’ll be blessed. And if you happen to find two – or more – you will be rich beyond measure.

Emily Carlton: Stop apologizing, start doing.

Echo Alexzander:  The more you put in the more you get out. SHOW UP! How you do this is how you do everything in your life so if you need to START making some changes here is the place to do it.

Lena Wright:  Don’t be afraid to speak up. Ask for help, even if you’re not sure you need it yet.

Jessica Gibson: Be intentional. Nobody becomes awesome without starting with the small things.

Renda Olson:  Go with your gut, don’t over analyze – there are no rules!

Ronne Rock:  Great joy awaits in a motley crew, a team of misfits, a clan, a tribe, a community of people who embrace you and let you live life with grace and purpose. Run to them. Don’t be afraid.

Randy Langley:  You can’t start the next chapter if you keep re-reading the last one.
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Feeling Discouraged

 

Bryan Logan: Not everything will work for you and your situation. Don’t feel bad if you’re having to adapt.

Heather Cloudt: if the direction of your risk changes a bit, do not give up. Remember that might be part of the journey.

Tina Hamilton:  Fall down and get back up. You will thank yourself in 24 days!

Gina Davis:  Just keep going. Just keep going no matter what. Even if you get behind or distracted or whatever, do not let that be your excuse to stop.

Amy Campbell:  Doing something is always better than doing nothing! If your risk is too big for 24 days or you get distracted and off track, remember – even if you only do 80%, it’s still better than 0%. Do what you can while you are part of the START. I assure you, it will be more than you would have done on your own outside the START community.

Jessica Curry Jobes:  Don’t give up.

Joy Haynes: Give yourself grace if you don’t keep up every day. Give others the freedom to express in a safe place. This community can serve you no matter how big or small your “start” is. If you see someone who needs encouragement, give it. If you see something that doesn’t serve you, just smile and move along. No matter what, don’t quit. The awesome is just around the corner.

Susie Finney:  I’d say that even if you don’t officially “succeed” with your goal, keep going. Sometimes it’s a good feeling just getting the ball rolling again.

Genevieve West:  #hatersgonnahate. A lot.

Susie Finney: Even in the midst of the challenges of your risk, learn to keep things fun. If you don’t, you won’t enjoy this experiment, no matter how officially “successful” you may look. Make time for the lighter side in life.

Anne Bunce: Progress not perfection!
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Risks

 

Shannon Hendrix: If you are restless & bored, choose a difficult, fear-inducing risk. If you are tapped out and emotionally exhausted, choose an easier “GitRdone” risk.

Patty Rogers:  Having to change or revise your goal does NOT mean you’ve failed.

Ben Turner: risk: /risk/ – Noun – A situation involving exposure to danger: “flouting the law was too much of a risk”. Verb – Expose (someone or something valued) to danger, harm, or loss: “he risked his life to save his dog”. Synonyms – noun: hazard – peril – jeopardy – danger – venture – chance  verb: hazard – venture – jeopardize – adventure – chance. \\ It’s called a risk for a reason. Otherwise they’d be called “lollipops” or “pandas” or something a lot less… risky.

Zach Wilkinson:  No risk or dream is too silly or strange to share.

Shane Conrad: Ask yourself for whatever dream you have, “Am I crazy for doing this?”  When you answer yes… Do it.

Jackson Tejada:  You may find that the risk you thought you were supposed to do was not the risk you were meant to do. Embrace the change.

Melissa Box:  No fear is too small. Embrace it.

Corie Clark: Don’t be scared to change your risk or add another.

Steve Dusek:  GO FOR IT! No matter how big or how small your risk is, no matter if you change it, put yourself out there because this group has your back!!

Donna Maukonen:  Be flexible, but focused. Size of risk looks different to everyone.
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Practical Tips

 

Becky Noffsinger: Participate. Even if you feel out of your element, ask for help, leave a comment, encourage someone else. It will spur you on.

Randy Langley: If you can’t find a post that has been buried in an avalanche of new posts… use the magnifying glass above to do a search.

Kevin Sheen:  Check your email.

Anne Bunce:  Don’t get overwhelmed by all the posts and long threads on the main pages and even the sub-pages. Trust that you will find what you need when you make it over there, but no one can keep up with all of it – and that’s not an expectation of us anyway.

Sherri Turnquist:  Read comments, stay in touch, don’t be prideful and not ask for help–seek help and give help when you can.

Anne Bunce: Share your struggles. Help someone else who is struggling.

Jane Tuttle:  Journal each day. You don’t have to write lots but you must be consistent. Journaling does not come naturally to me yet I found it helpful during this project. Oh, and don’t forget to laugh.

Miranda Ochocki:  Ask for help. Chances are, there’s an expert in the group in whatever area you’re having trouble with. Many will be happy to be a mentor for you.

David Mike: Ask for help on day 1 and use the sub-groups!

Steve Dusek:  Bring glitter!

Kellye Coleman:  Don’t forget about your risk! There may not be enough time in your life to be really active in the main group, subgroups, your group of 24 and your partnership while ALSO working on your risk/completing the daily assignments. That’s OK. Decide how you would like to invest your time, and figure out what works for you – it will likely look very different than what works for the rest of the group. Talk about expectations with your partner on the front end of things – How often will we check in? What do you need? etc.

Becky Miller:  Don’t feel bad if you never make it into the #5club. I got a lot of my risk-work done from 11 pm to 1 am; that just worked better for me.

Bethany Brant: Look at your START journey as a catalyst not a mandate. Your journey may take you down a different road than what the daily emails encourage. Just go with it. Success comes in all different shapes and sizes.

Patty Rogers:  One minute dance parties are crucial.

Emily Carlton: You might need to turn off the Facebook notification noise. Unfollow some posts if you’re getting overwhelmed.

Heather Villalta: Ask for help and advice! It doesn’t mean you’re dumb; it means you want to get smarter!
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