Bernard has committed to start exercising regularly and walks into a gym for the first time.  His friend, Alex, agreed to guide him through a workout.  Alex was a star soccer player in high school and is training to compete in a local CrossFit competition.  She turns to Bernard and says, “do what I do…on your mark, get set, go!” 

Bernard picks up two 35-pound dumbbells and starts doing reverse lunges, just as Alex does.  He immediately feels pain in his left leg, and his right shoulder feels strange.  As Bernard struggles, Alex tells him to put the weights down before he hurts himself.  Dejected and embarrassed, he sulks away and cancels his gym membership.

Jenny has just returned from Spain where she participated in a six-month immersive language program.  Inspired by photos from her trip, Jenny’s friend Paul has agreed to read Don Quixote.  While backpacking in Seville, Jenny found two copies of the Cervantes text written in Spanish.  He eagerly picks up one of the books, but does it make sense for Paul to start flipping through the pages if he does not speak Spanish? 

Bernard and Paul are to be commended for taking on the challenge of trying something new.  The way they begin, however, is not setting them up for success.  It is essential to begin from where you are, not from where you want to be.  You must start where you are, not from where someone else seems to be. 

When I hear the words, “on your mark,” I picture Olympians about to sprint to a finish line that is 100 meters away.  We are expected to line up at the same starting point to reach the same finish line.  Although this makes sense in the 100-meter dash, it is not always the best idea off the track. 

Maybe Bernard’s starting point was doing bodyweight lunges—no dumbbells at first—or watching Alex demonstrate good form before he even attempted a lunge.  By setting his starting point based on Alex’s ability, he was not able to progress at all.  Beginning in the correct manner would boost his confidence and increase the likelihood of his return to the gym. 

Paul is not starting off well if he picks up Don Quixote and begins to read it without speaking the language.  He is not capable of comprehending what’s going on even if he can pronounce the words on the page.  Shouldn’t he take a few Spanish classes or find a copy of the novel translated into a language he understands?

The incorrect starting points seem so obvious in these examples, but have you ever started off from the wrong mark without knowing it?

Pause, and take a step back as you begin something new.  Make sure your starting point is correct for you and is based on your prior experience and knowledge.  Starting off from the wrong place could lead to unwanted outcomes, wasted energy, and lost time.  Be realistic about how you begin something new.  Your ability will improve in time, and progress will soon be observed.  Neither will happen if you are working out with weights that are going to cause injury or staring at pages in a language you don’t speak. 

It’s important and admirable to aspire for greatness—to get there, begin from the unique place where you should start.  Seek help from someone who knows how to launch you on your journey from the correct point.  You are ready to take on new challenges!  Are you on your mark?