Most valuable lessons I've learned about starting something new

1. Find your Tribe. When you start something new, it is essential to surround yourself with like-minded people. Not because you can't do things alone, it's more because you don't have to do it alone.
   As you go through your journey, you will find people who have already been where you are right now and are willing to guide you. You will also find people behind you, that might have hit a roadblock and you can help them out. Save time, energy and money and make some friends along the way.
   
   
2. Have a powerful "Why". The reason why you decided to make changes in your life must be powerful enough to give you the push you need to continue when things get difficult.
   Do you remember the dementors in the Harry Potter books? Those horrible things that suck out all your happy feelings? The only way to drive them away is with the Patronus charm and to do that you need the happiest memory you have and it has to be powerful.
   Well, imagine the dementors are the obstacles, the nay-sayers, the mistakes, the negative thoughts, the blame, etc. You will need to remember your "why" to drive them away.
   
   
3. Education is key. Follow and learn from people who are experts in what you want to achieve and have an open mind. You will see that you can learn from the mistakes of others without having to make them yourself. Read books, articles, blogs, take courses, etc. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
   
   
4. Get 1% better every day. If you haven't read Atomic Habits by James Clear, I highly recommend it. It shows you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound into massive positive changes over time. If you can get just 1% better each day, you'll end up with results that are nearly 37 times better after one year.
   
   
5. Have grace with yourself. Why is it so hard? Perhaps because you know yourself better than anyone else and you are aware of your flaws and shortcomings, so naturally when something goes wrong, you blame yourself.
   As a recovering perfectionist, I have to tell myself constantly "I'm not my mistakes". There will be days when you will want to quit because everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong, but remember that you can't control all things. 
   
   
6. Celebrate your wins. Even the smallest, tiny, little ones. Acknowledge that you have done a great job! It boosts your confidence and increases your feelings of joy and satisfaction.
   
   
7. Be grateful. Gratitude directs your attention to the good rather than the bad, shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life.

I hope that after reading this you'll have a better idea of what to do when starting something new :)