Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast EP081: 18 Signs You Should Start Now!

Have you ever reached a point where waiting becomes heavier than moving forward or at least just taking that first step? Have you reached the point when the excuses you've repeated to yourself no longer satisfy you or have the same meaning anymore? The moment you realize that standing still costs more than failure ever could, that's the moment you know you're ready. Today, I want to walk you through 18 undeniable signs that you're not only capable of starting — but that you are actually to start right now. These are not clichés, not sugar-coated affirmations. These are real, time-tested truths that reveal when a dream is ready to be born through you. If you've been wondering if it's time, by the end of this episode, you'll know. And you may discover — the answer has been inside you all along.

Quote of the week: Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect." – Zoey Sayward

Points covered on 18 Signs You Should Start Now:

1. You're More Afraid of Standing Still Than of Failing

• Fear shifts from "what if it doesn't work" to "what if nothing ever changes."

• This signals growth hunger — readiness is when inaction hurts more than risk.

• Time-tested truth: people rarely regret trying, but often regret waiting.

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2. Your Excuses Sound Hollow, Even to You

• The same reasons that once justified waiting now feel thin.

• You catch yourself saying "I'll start when…" and feeling embarrassed.

• When excuses no longer satisfy your own mind, your readiness is undeniable.

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3. You've Outgrown Comfort More Than You've Outgrown Fear

• Comfort zones feel suffocating, not secure.

• Stagnation feels heavier than uncertainty.

• You're not "pushed" by circumstances; you're "pulled" by vision.

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4. You Can Envision the Cost of Not Starting

• You've run the future script: "What will life look like in 1, 3, 5 years if I don't act?"

• That vision is unbearable, which becomes your new fuel.

• The pain of lost potential is more vivid than the fear of setbacks.

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5. You're No Longer Waiting for Permission

• Readiness shows when external validation isn't required.

• You realize: No one is coming to crown you. You crown yourself.

• The unconventional twist: true leaders begin before they're called leaders.

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6. You're Willing to Invest — Time, Energy, or Money

• Readiness is proven when you put skin in the game.

• Even small sacrifices signal commitment.

• People who "say" they're ready but won't invest aren't ready.

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7. You Can Handle Not Having All the Answers

• You don't need every detail figured out anymore.

• You're okay with the fog, because clarity comes in motion.

• Unconventional truth: progress rewards movement, not perfection.

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8. The Dream Keeps Interrupting You

• You can't shake it — in the shower, while driving, even when resting.

• The pull is constant, like it's chasing you.

• When your dream becomes an intruder of thought, it's demanding to be born.

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9. Your Circle Isn't Enough Anymore

• Conversations feel small compared to your vision.

• You crave new mentors, peers, or environments that match your next level.

• Growth shows up when current surroundings no longer stretch you.

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10. You're At Peace With Imperfect Timing

• You realize there's no "perfect moment."

• Readiness is acceptance: now is messy, but waiting won't clean it up.

• Those who act in "imperfect time" often shape the future.

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11. Your Identity Has Shifted Before Your Actions

• You start calling yourself the thing — "I'm a writer," "I'm a coach," "I'm an entrepreneur."

• The inner identity changes before external results catch up.

• That shift is readiness declaring itself.

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12. You've Already Started in Small, Secret Ways

• Notes scribbled down, late-night research, hidden attempts.

• Readiness often shows in whispers before it roars.

• What you call "dabbling" is actually the first step.

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13. You See Failure as Data, Not Defeat

• Every "no" becomes a map, not a dead end.

• You look forward to mistakes because they reveal the next move.

• This is a mental revolution: failure transforms into fuel.

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14. Your Body Reacts When You Talk About It

• Your energy spikes, heart races, or your voice changes when you describe it.

• That physiological reaction is proof you're wired for it.

• The body often knows before the mind admits.

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15. You're Tired of Consuming — You're Ready to Contribute

• You stop bingeing advice, books, podcasts just to feel busy.

• You realize: creation beats endless consumption.

• Shifting from taker to giver = readiness.

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16. You're Thinking More About Legacy Than Lifestyle

• Lifestyle chases comfort, legacy chases impact.

• When you care more about what remains than what entertains, you're ready.

• It's a higher-level shift: from surviving to significance.

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17. You No Longer Feel the Need to Wait for Confidence

• You understand confidence is built by doing, not waiting.

• The "I'll start when I feel confident" excuse no longer tricks you.

• Readiness = willing to step out shaking, sweating, and still moving.

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18. You've Stopped Asking If You're Ready

• The very question fades.

• Instead, your mind says: How do I start?

• When doubt turns into logistics, the decision is already made.

"Here's the truth: no one ever feels completely ready. "Readiness isn't a feeling — it's a decision. Readiness isn't about having every answer, every dollar, every supporter lined up. Readiness is about recognizing that the spark is already inside you — and trusting that the path will reveal itself as you move. You don't need a map for every mile, only the courage to take the first step. Because clarity doesn't come before action — clarity is earned by action. So if these signs have stirred something in you, that's not coincidence. That's your life tapping you on the shoulder, whispering, 'It's time.'"

So, consider this your confirmation: you are ready to start. Not tomorrow. Not when the timing is perfect. Not when everything makes sense. Today. The question is no longer, 'Am I ready?' The question is, 'Am I willing?' The moment you say yes, momentum meets you halfway. So take your first step — because the dream waiting inside you isn't waiting for someday. It's waiting for you — right now."

I want help you make your dreams come true as you reach your goals and desires. If you want to take your my offer, then reach out to me for a complementary Next Level Dream Chat. It only takes about 30 minutes to get through. That way we can start diving into what your dreams are and what's holding you back. Simply send an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com and let me know how we can connect.

My book: Closing The 18-Inch Gap