The First Move: Why "Starting Is the Only Way to Make Progress" is Your 2026 Mantra
The calendar has turned, and with it comes the annual surge of ambition. We've all got a list—a fitness goal, a career leap, a skill we swear we’ll master. But how often do those grand plans stall out before they even leave the starting gate?
If there's one life lesson worth engraving above your workstation this year, it’s this simple, undeniable truth: Starting is the only way to make progress.
And nowhere is this principle clearer, more brutal, or more beautiful than on the 64 squares of a chessboard.
The Chessboard Paralysis: Analysis by Overload
Think about the game of chess. It’s a game of infinite possibilities. From the very first move, White has 20 options, and Black has 20 replies. Very quickly, the number of potential positions explodes.
For the aspiring player, or frankly, anyone facing a new, complex challenge (like a new business, a difficult course, or a major life change), this complexity can be paralyzing.
The "Analysis Paralysis" Trap: We spend hours reading books, watching tutorial videos, and analyzing grandmaster games before we dare to sit down and play a single, real-time match. We’re waiting for perfect knowledge, the perfect strategy, and the perfect moment.
The problem? While you’re in the reading phase, you aren't making progress. You’re gaining knowledge, yes, but knowledge without application is a stagnant pool. You are, in essence, complaining (to yourself, usually) about how hard the game is without ever submitting to the necessary process of failure and adaptation.
The Power of 1. e4 (or Just 1. Move)
In chess, White must make the first move. They can’t sit there and wait for Black to hand them an advantage. They must commit. They must take action.
A beginner might start with a simple, standard move like 1. e4 (moving the King's pawn two squares). Is it the perfect move? Maybe, maybe not. Will they make a mistake on move 5 or 10? Almost certainly.
But here is the progress that happens ONLY because they started:
They create a Position: They move from the abstract "game of chess" to a concrete, tangible position on the board that can be analyzed and corrected.
They Get a Response: The opponent’s reply forces them to think, to react, and to learn about the nature of the real challenge, not the challenge they imagined.
They Generate Data (Failure): They lose their first few dozen games. But each loss is a lesson—a moment where they can pinpoint, "I lost because I didn't protect my knight," or, "I didn't see that checkmate." This real-world, personalized data is invaluable. A book can't teach you that lesson; only doing can.
More Examples: Turning Complaint into Commitment
The key to progress is recognizing that complaining is a zero-progress activity. It feels like you’re addressing the problem, but you’re only ruminating on the difficulty. The antidote is always action.
Here’s how the "Starting Is Progress" principle applies across different life areas, moving you from passive complaint to active commitment:
1. Learning a New Skill (e.g., Programming)
The Complaint/Stall: "I can't start learning Python because I don't know which framework is best, and the documentation is overwhelming." (Waiting for the 'perfect opening'.)
The First Move: Start by completing the first free 30-minute interactive coding lesson you find online. Commit to running a simple "Hello World" program.
The Progress: You now understand how to set up an environment, a crucial step. You have immediate, tangible proof that you can, indeed, code. The next framework choice is less intimidating because you’ve already broken the inertia.
2. Managing Finances (e.g., Budgeting)
The Complaint/Stall: "I can't afford to save, and I don't have the time to organize all my receipts to create a detailed budget." (Overwhelmed by the complexity of the full system.)
The First Move: Start by simply tracking one category of spending—like coffee or groceries—for three days. Commit to downloading your bank's transactions for the last month.
The Progress: You gain immediate awareness of where your money is going, which is the necessary foundation for any budget. Awareness sparks correction.
3. Creative Projects (e.g., Writing a Novel)
The Complaint/Stall: "I can't start writing until I have the entire plot outlined, the character backstories detailed, and a perfect title." (Waiting for the perfect plan before execution.)
The First Move: Start by writing the first paragraph of the main conflict, even if it changes later. Commit to writing just 10 minutes a day.
The Progress: You generate material. You create momentum. The characters and plot points often reveal themselves through the act of writing, not before it. You can't edit a blank page; you can only edit material that exists.
4. Career Advancement (e.g., Seeking a Promotion)
The Complaint/Stall: "My boss never notices my work, and I don't feel ready for the next level yet." (Assuming external circumstances are solely to blame.)
The First Move: Start a simple weekly "Accomplishment Log" document. Commit to asking a mentor or trusted colleague, "What is one skill I need to develop to be considered for the next tier?"
The Progress: You move from passive waiting to active career management. You shift the focus from what you lack to what you can control and begin building the evidence needed for your case.
Why Imperfect Action Beats Perfect Inaction
In chess, there's a saying: "A bad plan is better than no plan."
We can adapt that: "An imperfect start is better than a perfect stall."
You don't need a grand, 10-step plan for your life's greatest challenge. You just need your own version of 1. e4—a simple, forward-moving step that changes the current state of affairs. This first move forces the game to begin, generates the crucial feedback you need, and transforms your abstract goal into a concrete reality.
This year, forget about the perfect strategy for a moment. Focus on the first move. Make it. Observe the result. Adjust. And then, make the next one.
The only way to win a game of chess is to play it. The only way to make progress in life is to live it—by starting.
What's Your First Move?
Stop analyzing the 20 opening possibilities of your goal. Pick one—the simplest, most available action—and execute it.
What’s the one small, concrete action you can take right now to move your life's pawn forward?
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