"最初のプロジェクトは世界で最高のものではないし、そうである必要もありません。"

When you start something new, you’re probably going to be bad at it. And that's okay. The idea here is that your initial efforts, whether it's writing, painting, coding, or any other skill, aren’t going to be masterpieces. They’re not meant to be. The point is to start, to learn, and to improve over time.

Think about when this might have been said. Maybe in a classroom, by a mentor or teacher encouraging their students to take those first shaky steps. The wisdom here is timeless. It’s about embracing the learning process, rather than chasing perfection right out of the gate.

Let’s dive into a real-life example. Imagine a young artist, Mia. She’s passionate about painting but feels disheartened because her first few pieces don’t turn out as vivid and lifelike as she imagined. Her mentor, an experienced artist, reminds her that even the greatest artists had to start somewhere. Picasso didn't create masterpieces on his first try. Mia takes this advice to heart, keeps painting, learns new techniques, and gradually, her work improves. She starts to see the progress she’s made and realizes that those initial "failures" were stepping stones to her success.

So, how can you apply this in your own life? Start by giving yourself permission to be a beginner. Pick up that guitar, start writing that novel, or try coding that app. Expect your first efforts to be rough. What matters is that you’re doing it. Each attempt teaches you something new. Keep a growth mindset—know that every mistake is a lesson, and each project brings you closer to mastery.

Let’s put this into a relatable scenario. Imagine you’re learning to cook. Your first dish? It’s a disaster. The chicken is dry, the vegetables are overcooked, and the sauce is bland. It’s frustrating, and you might feel tempted to throw in the towel. But think about a chef you admire—they didn’t become great overnight. They burned food, over-seasoned dishes, and probably had a few kitchen disasters of their own. If you keep at it, trying new recipes, tweaking old ones, and learning from each attempt, you’ll get better. Before you know it, you’ll whip up meals that impress your friends and family.

The key takeaway here is to shift your focus from perfection to progress. Embrace the learning journey. Your first projects are like the first steps of a toddler—they’re wobbly, unsteady, and full of tumbles, but they’re absolutely necessary. So don’t shy away from starting something because you’re afraid it won’t be perfect. It won’t be, and that’s perfectly fine. What’s important is that you start, you learn, and you keep going.

Remember, no one expects your first attempt to be brilliant. Not even you. What we’re aiming for is growth, improvement, and eventually, excellence. So go ahead, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep creating. Your future self will thank you.