You Already Have What You Need

Do you need more ideas or do you need to take action?

For both my personal and professional creative work, I’m constantly gathering ideas, writing notes from books, taking screenshots of inspiring designs, and recording voice memos about projects I want to build. I save them all, thinking I’ll come back to them when the timing is just right.

The other day, I was looking through old files and found a list of creative ideas I had written two years ago. That sent me down a rabbit hole: scrolling through even older notes, leftover drafts, and half-formed concepts. And that’s when it hit me:

I’ve been searching for my next source of inspiration,
but I was the light the whole time.

It’s easy to get caught in the cycle of looking for something new, the next great idea, the perfect timing, or a sign that it’s time to start. Doomscrolling on TikTok or Instagram, consuming endless content, and convincing yourself that one more research session will get you closer to where you want to be.

But at a certain point, searching becomes a distraction. Overplanning turns into procrastination. And waiting for the perfect moment? That’s just fear disguised as preparation. (Yes, I’m guilty of this too.)

You’ve already collected the experiences, knowledge, and proof that you’re capable.

Think of your past ideas, lessons, and wins as experience points you’ve gathered over time. You’ve already leveled up in ways you might not even recognize. The skills you’ve built, the challenges you’ve navigated, the insights you’ve gained: they’re all in your inventory, ready to be used.

A founder I follow, Myleik, often talks about “getting off the sidelines and playing your game.” And she’s right.

Too often, we feel stuck and frustrated that things aren’t moving fast enough or waiting for opportunities to come to us. But if you’re not actively playing, how can you expect to win? It’s time to step into the arena instead of waiting on the sidelines.

What if, instead of searching for something new, you took time to reflect on what you already have? What if, instead of waiting, you just started?

• You already have the ideas.

• You already have the skills.

• You already have the proof: your past wins, your past lessons, your past moments of clarity.

Take five minutes today to:

• Look through your old notes, drafts, or ideas. What stands out?

• Choose one thing to revisit, refine, or act on this week.

• Make a small move. Write, create, pitch, or execute.

Momentum doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from trusting that you already have what you need to start.

What’s one thing you’ve been holding onto that you can act on today? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear.

Recognizing that I already have what I need has also made me more intentional about what I’m choosing to focus on. Here’s what’s been on my mind lately: what I’m loving, learning, and letting go of this week

Things I’m Loving

• Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance and the symbolism. Listen. Intentional storytelling with themes that make a statement and get the people talking *chefs kiss*

Things I’m Learning

• Color Psychology in TV shows. This breakdown using the show Severance as an example was so cool.

Things I’m Letting Go

• Taking too much time to make decisions. We’ll expand on that next week, so make sure you’re subscribed to learn how talking to friends helped me remove a roadblock that usually slows me down.

Talk soon.