The Hardest Stage

You know that feeling when you’re starting something new? You’re excited. Inspired. You’ve got ideas buzzing, and you can picture yourself thriving. But then… the reality hits. It’s harder than you thought. You’re not sure you’re any good at it. The voice of doubt gets louder.

If that’s where you are right now—welcome. You’re not failing. You’re in the hardest stage. And that means you’re exactly where you need to be.

The Four Stages of Competence

Every new skill, every meaningful success, follows the same path:

1. Unconscious Incompetence – You don’t know that you don’t know. Everything feels possible.
2. Conscious Incompetence – You realize how much you don’t know. This is the dip. The place most people quit.
3. Conscious Competence – You’re getting better, but it still takes effort.
4. Unconscious Competence – You’ve mastered it. It flows.

Right now, you might be stuck in that second stage—the one where doubt creeps in and your peanut butter jar starts calling your name. (Been there.)

My YouTube Wake-Up Call

Before launching my channel, I watched a video by a man named Mike: “I Started My YouTube Channel at 80.” He inspired me. I ditched a book I was bored writing and dove into learning video production. I imagined myself thriving on camera—how hard could it be?

Spoiler: harder than I thought.

I studied. I took a course. I practiced. But once I started editing my first video in DaVinci Resolve, reality set in. I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt like quitting. But I didn’t.

“I Can’t Do It… Yet.”

That phrase, “I can’t do it… yet,” is a game-changer.

Psychologist Carol Dweck calls this the growth mindset. It’s the belief that your ability isn’t fixed—it can grow. And it’s one of the biggest predictors of success.

If you tell yourself you’re no good, you stop trying. But if you say, “I’m not there yet,” your brain stays open. Possibilities stay alive. And that’s when things begin to shift.

Micro Wins & Flow

Mihály Csíkszentmihályi talks about the state of flow—that magical sweet spot where challenge meets ability. You’re fully immersed. Time disappears. You feel alive.

How do you get there?

Start small.
Stack habits.
Remove distractions.
Celebrate micro wins—tiny steps forward.

When I was editing that first video, I had my laptop open, a tutorial on my iPad, and my phone searching for definitions. It wasn’t pretty—but I learned.

Tidy Habits, Safe Spaces

There are days I don’t want to get out of bed. So I found a way to meet myself where I’m at. I bought a bed-desk and now begin work right where I am—warm, safe, and still moving forward.

Progress isn’t always glamorous. It’s possible when we stop demanding perfection and start working with what we’ve got.

Keep Going—It Gets Easier

Eventually, you’ll reach the next stage—conscious competence. You’re improving. It’s still work, but you feel the progress.

And then, one day, something beautiful happens. You’ll sit down to do the thing that once made you anxious and overwhelmed… and it will feel natural.

That’s mastery. That’s momentum. That’s what we’re working toward.

Takeaways from Today’s Post

• Reframe the Struggle: Discomfort is a sign of growth—not failure.
• Break It Down: Set tiny goals. Micro wins build momentum.
• Focus on Process, Not Perfection: Do the work. The confidence will come.
• Adopt the “Yet” Mindset: You’re not bad at it—you’re just not there yet.

Free Download: The Four Stages of Competence Workbook

Ready to move forward with clarity and purpose?

Download your free workbook here

You’ll explore where you are in your journey, how to reframe the struggle, and create your own micro-win roadmap.

Keep showing up. You’re doing beautifully… xxx