One of the scariest yet most liberating realizations in life is that no one is coming to save you. There are no “adults” who have it all figured out. Every hero has flaws. Every expert carries uncertainty. And that’s not bad news.
It means there is no single path forward—there are many. There’s no standard “normal” you need to fit into. The people who create meaningful change are not the ones waiting for permission; they are the ones willing to act.
Shifting From Perfection to Experimentation
Jeff Bezos once said: “Stress primarily comes from not taking action over something that you can have some control over.” Action, even small action, is the antidote to inertia.
The way I handle this is by treating every decision as an experiment. You are not a perfectionist on stage under a spotlight. You are a scientist testing a hypothesis. Each step, no matter how small, simply sets up the next.
In Veblen, we call this the Stepping Stone Mindset. Nothing is final. Every choice is a stepping stone toward what comes next. This perspective removes the pressure to “get it all right” and instead empowers you to keep moving.
The Power of Small Steps
When you feel stuck, the best way forward is often the smallest step you can take right now. Ask yourself: What option will give me the best story later? High agency doesn’t mean fearlessness, it means acting with what you have, recognizing that no one else is going to do it for you.
Progress doesn’t require certainty. It requires movement. And often, that first small experiment is enough to break the cycle of waiting and unlock momentum.
Choosing Action Over Inertia
Recognizing that no one is coming to save you isn’t a burden, it’s an invitation. It puts the power back in your hands. By taking small steps, experimenting, and reframing decisions as opportunities, you move closer to the life and outcomes you want. In the end, forward motion is what separates those who wait from those who build.