Comments on: Dangerous Ideas: Getting Started is Overrated

By: Why ‘Fire! Ready! Aim!’ (doesn’t) work |

Why ‘Fire! Ready! Aim!’ (doesn’t) work | — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:11:46 +0000

[…] started, get into action, modify what you do later. I read another article, on Study Hacks, about ‘getting started is overrated’ and I want to talk about both the views. Why ‘Ready! Fire! Aim!’ does […]

By: Twitted by WomenLearnThai

Twitted by WomenLearnThai — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:36:33 +0000

[…] This post was Twitted by WomenLearnThai […]

By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » A Greek Philosopher Tackles Student Activities

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:13:28 +0000

[…] This is strong stuff. I love how much the issues of two millenia past resonate with our own discussions. Replace “philosopher,” “publican,” “orator,” and “Ceaser’s officers” with “national honors society member,” “leader of cultural affinity club,” “student researcher,” and “member of student government,” and Epictetus’s quotes would be at home in one of my focus screeds. […]

By: steve e

steve e — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:48:26 +0000

Very interesting reading and great to see constructive comments rather than the usual tripe.
Thank you everyone, not just the poster!
I think starting or not starting depends entirely on the project you have in mind. If it’s starting up a website then just do it, you can learn as you do it and then advertise it once it’s to your own satisfaction or starts to get a regular readership. The earlier you start, the smaller the market, there are only ever going to be more sites as time goes on.

By: How to get rich quick . . . « Ben Byerly’s Blog

How to get rich quick . . . « Ben Byerly’s Blog — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:19:12 +0000

[…] Hack: Getting Started is Overrated. (27 June […]

By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Difference Between Experiments and Goals: How to Balance Spontaneity with the Focused Pursuit of Fame

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:35:13 +0000

[…] weeks ago I published a controversial post titled: Getting Started is Overrated. My basic point: If you want to become truly impressive, you have to focus on a small number of […]

By: Scott H Young » Building Your Persistence Levels

Scott H Young » Building Your Persistence Levels — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:01:09 +0000

[…] started this discussion yesterday, by referencing an article Cal Newport wrote about the danger of starting without commitment. Since most worthwhile goals will have large gaps […]

By: Scott H Young » How to Measure Your Degree of Persistence

Scott H Young » How to Measure Your Degree of Persistence — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:00:21 +0000

[…] Cal Newport over at Study Hacks, wrote an interesting article where he claims that getting started is overrated. He argues that too many people get started […]

By: Scott H Young » Friday Links 08-07-03

Scott H Young » Friday Links 08-07-03 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:00:29 +0000

[…] Getting Started is Overrated - Forget the, “Ready, Fire, Aim” approach. Cal Newport suggests that getting started is an overrated ability and that focused (and sometimes hesitant) action is a smarter approach. He explains, “For every successful entrepreneur, or writer, or blogger, or actor, there are dozens of others who did get started but then flamed out. Some people lack the right talents. For many more, the pursuit, once past that initial stage of generic, heady enthusiasm, simply lost its attraction and their interest waned.” […]

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:41:09 +0000

At least my resistance to this dangerous idea was due to my experience with a folks that just sit around waffling on everything and thus don’t do anything except complain about the status quo.

I feel that resistance too, and think you're right. For people who are looking to avoid any action, this philosophy is probably just going to make things worse! But on the other hand, maybe nothing is going to get them going...