Sometimes the smartest way to get started isn’t to do it alone - it’s to get help.

This isn’t about inviting friends to keep you company. It’s about bringing in professional, paid, or knowledgeable assistance when the stakes are high and the project matters.

Think about it:

• Hiring a contractor for a home project

• Working with a financial advisor or accountant before tax season

• Booking a coach or consultant for specialized guidance

• Even using AI or online resources to cut the research in half

When natural consequences for not finishing are serious - missed deadlines, lost money, wasted opportunities - help isn’t a luxury. It’s leverage.

Getting help doesn’t mean you’re failing - it means you’re making progress faster.

What’s one project you could move forward today by getting help?

Download your free worksheet here: September 22nd - Get help

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.

Some projects are just too big (or too boring) to do alone. So why not make it a party?

Whether it’s assembling subscription boxes, painting a room, or tackling a yard cleanup, you can:

• Invite a few friends or family members

• Offer snacks, drinks, or music while you work

• Turn the task into a fun, social event

And when the work is done, celebrate together - go out for ice cream, order pizza, or relax with a movie night.

Big projects feel lighter when they’re shared. What was once a mountain of work can turn into a memory you actually enjoy.

What’s one project you could “make a party” this month?

Download your free worksheet here: September 21st - Make it a party

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.

Rewards can motivate us to get started, but sometimes the real push comes from the other side: consequences.

Think about it:

What happens if you don’t make progress on this task?

• Will you miss a deadline?

• What kind of stress will manifest?

• Will you be able to finish all the extra work later?

Could you add your own consequence to raise the stakes?

• Owe a friend $5 if you skip?

Consequences don’t have to be harsh, they just need to make inaction less appealing than action.

PS - don’t turn all your fun-time activities into self-made consequences. Your value as a human and your right to rest aren’t defined by your productivity, so use these types of consequences sparingly, and only if they’ll really inspire you to get moving.

When rewards aren’t enough to get you moving, try a consequence.

What natural or self-made consequence could help you start today?

Download your free worksheet here: September 20th - Try a consequence

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.

We love giving rewards for finishing — but what about rewards for starting?

Most people wait until the very end to celebrate. But the hardest part of any project is usually the first step. That moment when you finally open the document, pull out the supplies, or hit “go”—that’s where the real courage lives.

Gold stars are for starting.

So stop saving your treats for the finish line. Pat yourself on the back, give yourself a small reward, or even just acknowledge:

“I did the hardest part - I began.”

Finishing matters, but starting deserves celebration too.

How could you give yourself a gold star for starting today?

Download your free worksheet here: September 19th - Gold stars are for starting

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.