George Costanza was easily one of our favourite characters from the 1989 iconic television sitcom, Seinfeld.
In one episode, after being fed up with his life and realizing that everything he tried to do failed, George started doing the opposite of everything he did in the past.
And guess what? It worked! He got a new job with the New York Yankees, made more money, and even started dating a beautiful woman.
While there are many lessons we can learn from this episode, our focus will be on how you can replicate this “opposite strategy” in starting and getting things done.
Let’s jump right in:
Step #1: The opposite of being scared is to start
The most common reason for not starting something new is fear. Fear is a powerful thing, and it can take hold of you.
Also, it can come as fear of failure, fear of the unknown, or even fear of success.
The George Costanza mindset applies to overcoming this fear by explaining that the opposite of being scared is to start.
Starting usually involves taking small steps at a time. This will help you gain confidence and build momentum as you continue.
Also, once you’ve started building momentum, you’ll be less afraid and more motivated to keep going forward.
Step #2: The opposite of having a lack of knowledge is to gain knowledge
Another common reason people give for not starting something new is the lack of knowledge they have on the topic or subject involved.
This can often be tied back to fear and concerns about being unprepared for what lies ahead, but sometimes it’s just a genuine lack of knowledge on the topic itself.
The George Costanza mindset applies here by explaining that the opposite of having a lack of knowledge is to gain knowledge.
You don’t have to know everything before you get started. In fact, you learn more from practice than from ideation.
Step #3: The opposite of not having enough time is to make time
The problem: “I want to start a side hustle, but I just don’t have the time.”
The solution: You can always find the time if you’re willing to sacrifice something else.
The question is, what are you willing to give up? First, list all of your commitments (work, family obligations, and social activities).
Then, evaluate what you could cut or do less of to make room for this new project. If it’s important enough, you’ll find a way.
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Step #4: The opposite of not having money is to save it (or create it)
There are two ways to make money. The first step is to decrease your expenses by cutting unimportant items from your budget.
The second step is to increase your income. For example, you can use your car for Uber on weekends, or start a new side hustle (like selling t-shirts on eBay).
Money is only limited until you create it. And just like with your time, what you decide to spend it on shows what’s important to you.
Step #5: The opposite of not knowing where to start is to start somewhere
As entrepreneurs, we often get stuck because we believe we have to take massive action right away.
But that’s not true. You can start small and build momentum over time.
For example, say you want to be an author and write a book. But you don’t know how to write a book proposal or even where to begin outlining the first chapter.
Instead of waiting until you feel ready (which might never happen), you can write one page every day… or even one paragraph every hour.
Wrapping Up
The question is not how many times you’ve failed or how many times you’ve suffered setbacks.
The question is, how many times are you willing to forge a new mindset each time you encounter negative experiences?
Now, I’m not asking you to throw caution to the wind or to disregard your gut feeling like George.
However, if you’re finding it difficult to move from where you are now to where you want to be, it might help to have a change of mindset.