The Gap Is Your Friend, Not Your Enemy

So, you're building something. A business, a skill, a life that actually feels like yours. And you look around, you see where you want to be... and then you look at where you are. That gap? It can feel huge. Like, "I'm-never-going-to-get-there" huge. It’s totally normal to feel embarrassed.

It's natural to want to hide that gap. To pretend we're closer to the finish line than we are. But that doesn't actually help, does it? It gets in the way.

Think about it like this: Imagine you're learning to play guitar. You can barely make a C chord sound clean, but you dream of shredding like Hendrix. You wouldn't show up to your first lesson pretending you're already a guitar god, right? You’d look ridiculous. You know you have to put in the hours of practice, to fumble through the basics, before you get anywhere near "Voodoo Child."

Your business, your skills, your anything – it’s the same. That gap isn't a sign of failure. It's a roadmap. It shows you exactly what you need to work on.

So, how do you stop being embarrassed by that gap and actually start using it?

First, you need a clear picture of where you're going. What's the "Hendrix" level you're aiming for? Don’t just say, "I want a successful business." Get specific. What does that look like? "I want to be making $X per month, working with Y type of clients, doing Z kind of work." Write it down. Make it real. The more clarity you have, the better. It is about defining your goals.

The benefit? Having that vision keeps you motivated. It's like having a lighthouse in a storm. You know where you're headed, even when things get rough. That, in turn, makes it easier to focus on the steps in front of you.

Now, for the practical part. Here’s a process you can adapt:

  1. Break it Down: Your big goal? It's probably made up of a bunch of smaller ones. Like, learning guitar isn't just "learning guitar" – it's learning chords, scales, strumming patterns, etc. Figure out the sub-goals that make up your big goal.

  2. Prioritize: Which of those sub-goals is the most foundational? If you try to learn everything at once, you'll get overwhelmed. Focus on the one that will unlock the next few.

  3. Track Your Progress: This is crucial. Not just for the big milestones, but for the small wins. Finished a course? Celebrated. Mastered a new technique? Acknowledge it. This keeps you going.

  4. Get Feedback: Find someone who's a few steps ahead of you. Ask them for honest criticism. Don't get defensive – listen. This can save you a ton of wasted effort.

  5. Adjust as Needed: Your path isn't going to be a straight line. You'll learn things, you'll change your mind. That's okay! Revisit your goals regularly and tweak them.

There are a lot of tools that can help you with this. You could use a simple spreadsheet, a project management app, or even a notebook.

And, if you're looking for something really flexible, you might want to check out GraceBlocks. It lets you build pretty much any kind of tracking system you need. Want to connect your goals to specific tasks? Want to automate reminders or send yourself progress reports? You can do that. It’s like having a custom-built app, but without needing to code.

The point is, don’t let that gap between where you are and where you want to be intimidate you. Embrace it. Use it. It's the fuel you need to get where you're going.

Found this helpful? GraceBlocks is a flexibile tool we developed to manage our business and personal life, including things like automating the publishing of this blog post. It can do the same for you! Sign up for free to explore the possibilities at my.graceblocks.com. Have a specific project in mind? Click here to contact us.

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