The most popular question I get in my Instagram Q&As is, without a doubt, about how to start a business, a podcast, post about fitness, or show up more consistently online. But I don’t think people are actually looking for a to-do list. What they truly want is to move past the internal barriers keeping them stuck. More specifically, they want to know how to take action even when they don’t feel ready.

I’m Annie Miller, and I help you build a sustainable online health and fitness business without selling your soul to vanity metrics. And today we do that by getting you to take action with less hesitation, only where it makes sense for you and your business.

More of a visual learner? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Feeling Stuck? You’re Not Alone

The task might literally be starting your business. In that case, I already created a video titled What You Need to Start an Online Fitness Coaching Business. But it could also be launching a podcast, posting more frequently, changing an offer, or even letting one go. If you feel friction — the kind that keeps showing up again and again — this is for you. My goal is to help you navigate that hesitation with more confidence, especially from a business standpoint.

The truth is, the people you look up to have gotten really good at one thing: taking aligned action without hesitation, even when they don’t feel ready.

The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Readiness

You’ll never feel 100% ready. There will always be something you “should” do first — better gear to buy, another course to take. But here’s the truth: you already have what you need. You can build the parachute on the way down. Confidence comes through reps, and clarity follows action. The sooner you begin, the sooner you improve. And the sooner you improve, the faster the fear fades.

Ask Yourself: What’s the Simplest Way?

Let’s say you’re trying to start something — anything — but you’re blocked by not knowing how. This is where how to start before you’re ready becomes a practical question. Here’s a personal example. I started my podcast in 2018 while traveling the world full-time. That meant no consistent recording location, limited equipment, and constant time zone shifts. I had no perfect setup. What I did have was a $63 Samson mic, a free Pat Flynn course, and a willingness to Google things. I made a cover graphic in Canva and let my audience vote on the name. That’s it.

I asked: what’s the lowest barrier to entry? What’s the simplest way I can do this with what I have now? If you can ask yourself that every time, you’re golden.

Fancy Isn’t the Goal — Action Is

Recording podcasts under a blanket in tiny Airbnbs became part of my brand. Was it ideal? No. But what was the alternative? Not starting at all?

Just because something isn’t polished doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. So if you’re thinking: I don’t have the right camera. My house doesn’t look aesthetic. I’m not in the best shape right now. Please hear me — those are not reasons to wait.

When I started this YouTube channel, I was 13 weeks pregnant. Some videos I recorded postpartum. I have yet to record a single video not pregnant. That’s not ideal, but it’s real.

You don’t need a farmhouse kitchen or a Pinterest home gym to create value. Value comes first. Everything else is second.

Stop Letting Imposter Syndrome Win

Another big block in learning how to start before you’re ready is imposter syndrome. It whispers things like, “No one will listen,” or “Everyone’s already saying this, so why bother?” But let’s cut through that.

Do you feel a tug to speak up? Do you have something worth sharing? Then say it. Share it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t need to be the best — just honest and willing to show up.

Ask: What’s the Worst That Can Happen?

One of my favorite questions when I feel stuck is this: what’s the worst thing that could happen?

Say it out loud. When you do, you’ll usually find the worst-case scenario isn’t that bad. Most of the time, you can recover easily.

And here’s the beautiful thing: in the beginning, no one’s watching anyway. You have the most room to mess up, to experiment, to grow without pressure.

Your first reps are supposed to be rough. That’s the whole point.

Final Thoughts on How to Start Before You’re Ready

If you expect to feel ready before you act, you’ll wait forever. That’s not how readiness works. Instead, expect to feel like a beginner. Expect to not know what you’re doing. Expect things to be messy. And do it anyway.

You get better by starting. You get confident by acting. You figure it out as you go.

Whatever you’re sitting on, now is a good time to begin. You’ve got more room than you think. Start before you’re ready.