Taking the First Step

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“For some things we never feel ready.” – Moana 2

My kids and I watched Moana 2 this week when we were in Hawaii. It felt like another way to weave in the Island culture. But it turned into something more when I heard the quote above. Moana is getting ready for an expedition and her mom says to her, “For some things we never feel ready.”

That line hit me right in the heart. I always want to feel ready – and never do. My best adventures come from when I do it anyway. Like this summer as my kids and I travel from Seattle to Hawaii and then on to visit friends in Amsterdam, Paris and England. I’ve learned so much. Mostly about how not to get frozen in fear but instead have faith that I can follow the steps in front of me one at a time.

So in this episode of The Life of Try, I share the story about turning a long-held dream of visiting friends in France into a real-life adventure through courage, creativity, and community support. What began as an expensive and seemingly impossible trip became an opportunity to rent out my home, ask for help, and take the next step before the whole path was clear.

This episode explores what it means to stop waiting for perfect timing, listen to the quiet tug of what matters, and move forward even when life feels uncertain. Through stories about Airbnb, travel logistics, helpful neighbors, pet care, and unexpected solutions, I reflect on the powerful formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity.

Key Takeaways

  • Don’t wait for easy—move because it matters. The right time may never arrive, but meaningful goals often begin with one brave first step.
  • Pay attention to the sparks. A casual comment, a book passage, a flyer, or someone else’s story can become part of the solution once you start moving.
  • Say the dream out loud. People can’t support a goal they don’t know about, so communicate what you’re trying to do and be willing to accept help.
  • Use the formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity. When your why meets the resources, people, and ideas already around you, new possibilities begin to unfold.
  • Take the next step, not the whole staircase. You don’t need to solve every problem in advance; you only need to meet the next real step in front of you.

If you’re looking for encouragement to get unstuck, try something new, pursue a meaningful goal, or find courage in the messy middle, this episode offers inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that you don’t need to see the whole staircase to begin.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

Motive + Means = Opportunity: A Life of Try Story – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

Are you waiting for easy? Here's a formula to get you moving!In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon shares a personal story about turning a long-held dream of visiting friends in France into a real-life adventure through courage, creativity, and community support. What began as an expensive and seemingly impossible trip became an opportunity to rent out her home, ask for help, and take the next step before the whole path was clear.This motivational personal growth episode explores what it means to stop waiting for perfect timing, listen to the quiet tug of what matters, and move forward even when life feels uncertain. Through stories about Airbnb, travel logistics, helpful neighbors, pet care, and unexpected solutions, Wynne reflects on the powerful formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity. Listeners will come away with memorable takeaways about taking the first step, paying attention to the sparks around them, saying their dreams out loud, accepting support, and trusting that the path often appears one step at a time. Key take-aways for this episode: → Don’t wait for easy—move because it matters. The right time may never arrive, but meaningful goals often begin with one brave first step. → Pay attention to the sparks. A casual comment, a book passage, a flyer, or someone else’s story can become part of the solution once you start moving. → Say the dream out loud. People can’t support a goal they don’t know about, so communicate what you’re trying to do and be willing to accept help. → Use the formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity. When your why meets the resources, people, and ideas already around you, new possibilities begin to unfold. → Take the next step, not the whole staircase. You don’t need to solve every problem in advance; you only need to meet the next real step in front of you. If you’re looking for encouragement to get unstuck, try something new, pursue a meaningful goal, or find courage in the messy middle, this episode offers inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that you don’t need to see the whole staircase to begin.🔔 Subscribe for more: Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on: personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.📌 Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel & Stay UpdatedABOUT MEHi, I’m Wynne Leon — host of The Life of Try, a personal growth and self-improvement podcast exploring resilience, reinvention, uncertainty, and the courage to keep trying.Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real-life stories, I share insights to help you navigate change, get unstuck, and move forward with more intention.🌍 Website: https://wynneleon.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎥 Watch Next➡️ How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Burnout Recovery, Joy & Resilience with Mike Rucker➡️ How to Celebrate Small Wins | Tiny Habits, Resilience and Personal Growth➡️ Fun: The Key to Habit Formation🔗 CONNECT WITH ME:• Website:→ https://wynneleon.com/• Instagram:→ https://www.instagram.com/wynneleon/• Facebook:→ https://www.facebook.com/wynne.leon/
  1. Motive + Means = Opportunity: A Life of Try Story
  2. How Writing Helps Us Survive Chronic Illness and Loss
  3. Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life | Liza Anderson’s Extraordinary Story
  4. Encouraging Effort, Not Outcome: The Secret to Helping People Keep Trying
  5. How to Celebrate the Try

Links for this Episode:

Motive + Means = Opportunity transcript

The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

How to Let Go of Expectations & Keep Trying | Personal Growth Mindset

How to Find and Share Your Unique Superpower | Roger Kastner on Purpose & Personal Growth

⁠How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit⁠

30 thoughts on “Taking the First Step”

  5. Oh I love that your family got to enjoy Moana 2 in Hawaii – that is extra special. Moana is one of T’s favourites and he must’ve watched it daily for quite a stretch of time. I look forward to hearing more of your travels and to tuning into this latest episode this weekend.

    2 more days of school for us. Bittersweet emotions over here.

    Take care!

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    1. Moana is really good, isn’t it? Sometimes Disney really nails it.

      Hope the last 2 days of school go great. When I picked Miss O up from her last day of school, she was sobbing knowing she wouldn’t go back. I’m not sure I realized what a milestone this is for our kids before this spring. So proud of T and O!!

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  9. “I believe great people do things before they are ready.”— Amy Poehler. / i love this episode and your story. i’m so glad that you went for it and made it happen. we just have to go for it, not knowing how it will happen but having faith that it will somehow workout, often in ways he haven’t yet considered.

    this realization has been proven to me time and again in my life. starting grad school, quitting my job, 3 daughters in college, changing careers, moving, all when i was 40 and had $12.75 in the bank. and somehow i found a way and it happened. changed my life for the better. great post and have fun!

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    1. I love this comment, Beth!! What a great story — such incredible bravery and just where you needed to be, right? And I so resonate with “time and time again.” Somehow learning this isn’t just a one time thing – we have to keep doing it! Thank you!

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  13. I had no idea that the rental originated from pulling together a years-old dream, Wynne. That’s cool. What a briliant insight that the next step appears when we take the first one. Gosh, that is so true. And I love the story as it unfolds, how 3 or4 factors made the pieces come on fire. Wow, wow, wow. I am SO happy for you as sit and talk looking summery and tan and healthy in Hawaii! ☺️ I read The Alchemist probably a century ago, but what you call sparks, Coelo called signs and you have to be ready to see them when they appear. You did and tried and the dream is here. This is probably my favorite Life of Try….so far.

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    1. Oh, Melanie — I love how you connected the dots to The Alchemist. I hadn’t thought of that and it’s probably been a good decade since I read it too. Right – you have to be ready to see them. That is so true!! I love the way you listen and your feedback is invaluable. Thank you, my dear friend!

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