You only have to start from scratch once.

how many times can we truly start from nothing?

There’s an old joke that goes like this: How many apples can you eat on an empty stomach? The (surprisingly non-intuitive) answer is just one—because after the first apple, your stomach is no longer empty.

Using the same logic, we can ask ourselves: how many times can we truly start from nothing? The answer is the same—just once. After the first attempt, you’re no longer starting from zero. You have experience.

How many blogs or online projects can you begin from scratch? You already know the answer: only one. The very first one. After that, you’re no longer a beginner. You’ve learned how to write, how to grow an email list, how to pitch your ideas, and much more.

If you’re thinking of starting something new today, chances are you already know what to do. You’ve likely learned how to manage your time, how to keep yourself motivated, how to track your progress, and how to adapt along the way.

In reality, you probably started your journey long ago. Today, it’s just about putting those tools, lessons, and experiences to work.

So stop overthinking it. Go get that project done!