When I started this business from zero, the loudest part of the process wasn’t strategy.
It was the voice in my head whispering, “Don’t post. You’ll be judged.”
GEAR—our Ground → Explore → Attune → Resolve framework clicked for me the day I learned to calm that voice and hit publish anyway. That tiny shift changed everything.
The tiny problem that kept derailing big decisions
In the early months, I wasn’t paralyzed by a lack of ideas, I was flooded by them. I had too much data, too many options, and a perfection bar set so high that starting felt risky. My fix became a promise to myself. I applied the 80% rule. If it’s 80% good, I launch, learn in public, and improve next time.
A simple reframe to move me out of inaction:
- I don’t need perfection, just momentum
- The one step I’m taking isn’t permanent, it’s reversible
- There’s no such thing as a perfect plan, today I’ll just take one step
- Reset through grounding and calmness.
- Explore the issue and possible solutions.
- Consider all factors that could have an impact on your final decision such as internal or external stakeholders and the incident teams.
- Create your action plan.
The 5-minute GEAR ritual I use before launch
G — Ground (60 seconds)
3 slow breaths. Feel the chair. Drop your shoulders. Name the fear out loud if you need to: “I’m afraid of being judged.”
E — Explore (60–90 seconds)
What’s the issue and potential solution that moves this forward? (Post the draft, send the invite, outline the offer.) Envision one step only.
A — Attune (60–90 seconds)
Does this choice align with our value and external factors such as capacity? If yes, proceed. If not, shrink the step until it does.
R — Resolve (60 seconds)
Take a small, reversible action now. Hit publish. Send the DM. Block 15 minutes on the calendar. No fanfare, just do it. This is how I’m learning to overcome my fear of being judged by putting myself out into social media one reversible decision at a time. We started our social presence as an experiment and kept refining our voice over time.
Using this ritual, we tested our program in beta and saw positive results from participants. It didn’t happen because I powered through with more willpower. It happened because a calm, repeatable system made it safe to start, rinse and repeat.
Three takeaways:
- Small, consistent decisions compound faster than sporadic big pushes.
- A calm system beats a stressed sprint for quality and speed.
- Reversible choices lower the fear of starting.
Try it today: a 7-day “Reversible Decisions” sprint
Each day, run the 5-minute GEAR check and ship one reversible action:
- Publish a draft post that’s 80% done.
- DM one potential customer to book a 15-minute discovery chat.
- Swap a vague to-do (“work on pitch”) for a concrete 20-minute block (“write 3 bullet benefits”).
- Post a simple value tip on social with no graphics, just text.
- Outline one module of your offer with three bullets.
- Ask for one testimonial or quick quote from someone you’ve helped.
- Write a one-paragraph “why now” and share it publicly.
Track how you feel before/after each action. Notice the drop in friction once “start” becomes a ritual, not a debate.
What’s your personal ritual for getting started?
Share it in the comments so others can borrow it. Your five minutes might be someone else’s turning point.
If you want a structured way to build this into your workday, that’s why we built Awakening Performance. It’s a practical blend of tranquil, mindful, and analytical meditation (via GEAR) to reduce decision fatigue and increase clarity at work.
Join the interest list or reach out with questions.
