“I want to move forward, but I don’t know enough yet.”
I read that line in an e-letter I received the other day. The author of the e-letter stated that the line is a common one among people considering new businesses or new directions with their existing businesses. I don’t know if the line is a common one – I suppose it is based on my experience with trying new things – but I still had a knee-jerk reaction to it.
My reaction is this: You will never know enough. Get over it. I will never know enough, either. Yes, some knowledge is necessary before diving into a new business or project, but no one can know enough about those things. Some knowledge only can be gained through experience, the often painful playing field of trial and error.
Besides, if I had known what I now know when I first started blogging or using social media, I might never have started. Some ignorance can be a blessing. Not knowing what all the social media and blogging “experts” had to say gave me freedom to do my own research and to find my own way. Too much knowledge can be overwhelming. It can lead to paralysis rather than to action.
Another point to keep in mind: you always can ask for help. You should. I’ve been embracing the concept over the past year and a half. It’s been hard – my pride gets in the way – but the results of humbling myself have been beautiful. I’ve formed some strong bonds with a few of my online friends because I have been willing to ask for help and to say “I don’t know enough. Would you be willing to help me with this?”
It’s impossible to know “enough.” How would you know when you’ve reached that point? You can’t. You only can move forward with the knowledge you do have and the certainty that you will know more once you take that first step toward whatever it is that you need to do next.
Erin Feldman
Erin Feldman is the founder of Write Right. She's a copywriter, editor, poet, and artist. She helps people tell their stories. You can find Erin on Google+.
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[...] may be more hesitant to get lost, especially when they’re thinking about the bottom line, but getting lost is a prerequisite for being found. Getting lost leads a business or a communications department to [...]