Keep the Ball Rolling

Motivation will achieve your goals!

A motivational essay by:

By Eric R. McQuiston

I’ve said it for years: getting the ball rolling is the hardest part. Once it’s in motion, everything gets easier—because momentum has a way of doing the heavy lifting.

Starting anything—whether it’s a career move, a personal goal, or a long-term project—requires more than motivation. It takes a decision, a first step, and often, the courage to do something imperfectly. That initial push is where most people stall out. They hesitate. They wait for the timing to be right, the conditions to be perfect, or for fear to subside. But the truth is, that moment rarely comes. If you wait until you’re 100% ready, you’ll be waiting forever.

I’ve learned that progress doesn’t require perfection. It requires movement.

And movement builds momentum.

Momentum is powerful, not just because it helps you get where you’re going—but because it helps silence the internal noise that often derails us: self-doubt, overthinking, and fear. Those three are the enemies of achievement. They sneak in quietly, often disguised as logic or caution. They’ll whisper, “Maybe this isn’t the right time,” or “What if you fail?” or “Shouldn’t you wait until you’ve figured everything out?” But here’s the thing—those voices don’t go away with more thinking. They go away with more doing.

Self-doubt feeds on stillness. Overthinking thrives in delay. And fear grows stronger every day you let it set the terms. But when you take action—any action—you chip away at all three. You prove to yourself that you’re capable. You shift the narrative. And with each step forward, it becomes easier to take the next.

That’s the nature of momentum.

I’ve also learned that getting bogged down in the minutiae is a surefire way to stall it. There’s a time and place for details, but too often people let the small stuff block their progress. They spend so much time tweaking the plan that they forget to follow it. They obsess over every contingency until the opportunity is gone. I’ve seen it in design, in business, and in life. You can’t always think your way forward—you have to move.

Keep your eyes on the goal. Work toward that. Let the little things work themselves out. They usually do, especially when you’re in motion. That’s not to say ignore problems or avoid planning. But don’t confuse planning with progress. A rough draft that moves forward is better than a perfect idea that never gets off the ground.

---

Now here’s where it gets interesting: goals change. That used to bother me. I used to think that shifting a goal meant failure—that maybe I’d set the wrong one, or worse, that I didn’t have what it took to reach it. But I’ve come to see it differently. Goals aren’t fixed points. They’re guideposts. They give you something to move toward, but as you grow and gain perspective, the target may shift. That’s not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of growth.

The key is to keep moving.

The motivation to move, to improve, to pursue something meaningful—that’s what should never stop. If you wait until the goal is crystal clear and the road is fully mapped out, you’ll never leave the starting line. Start with what you know, with what you have. Let experience shape the rest.

Momentum doesn’t guarantee success, but it makes success possible. It builds clarity, resilience, and confidence. It connects you to people, opens doors, and creates a rhythm you can ride even when motivation dips.

There have been plenty of times in my own life when I didn’t feel fully ready. Starting a business. Writing something new. Taking on projects that stretched me. The nerves were there, but I reminded myself: just get the ball rolling. And once it did, things began to align. Not all at once—but gradually. Purposefully. Momentum did its job, as long as I kept my focus.

So if you’re stuck—or waiting for the right moment—this is your nudge.

Forget perfect. Forget every possible scenario. Forget the fear telling you that you’re not ready.

Just start.

Push the ball. Get it rolling.

Then keep it rolling.

Because once you’re in motion, all sorts of things begin to happen—things that planning alone could never accomplish. And even if you change directions later, you’ll be changing with purpose, not regret.

Progress doesn’t require all the answers. It requires action.

And momentum takes care of the rest.

~ Eric