You know that goal you've been "working on" for months?

The one you've researched to death, made spreadsheets about, watched 47 YouTube videos on. But still haven't actually started?

Yeah. That one.

Ali Abdaal just dropped a video that'll make you uncomfortable in the best way possible. It's called "Why Over-thinkers Make No Progress," and it explains exactly why brilliant people often accomplish less than average folks who just... do stuff.

Let me break it down for you.

Here's the trap: School taught us that there's always a "right answer."

Study hard → Pass the test → Get the grade.

The system was clear, predictable, safe.

So now, as adults, we wait for that same certainty before we take action. We think:

Ali calls this the Prison of Certainty, and it's keeping you stuck.

"Our school system wired us to wait for perfect conditions that never come."

Think about that. You're waiting for a green light that doesn't exist in the real world.

If you're smart, you probably overthink. It's not a personality flaw, it's actually a side effect of being intelligent.

Your brain can see all the ways things could go wrong. All the variables. All the risks.

So you analyze, then plan, then research some more.

But here's the problem: Analysis feels like progress, but it's not.

Reading another book about starting a business isn't the same as starting a business. Watching workout videos isn't the same as working out. Planning your side hustle for six months isn't the same as launching it.

You're stuck in what Ali calls "planning mode" and the scary part is, it can last for years.

It's not that you don't know enough.

You probably know more than most people who are already doing the thing you want to do.

The real issue? You're trying to eliminate uncertainty before you start.

And that's impossible.

Think about anything worth doing:

None of these come with guarantees. There's no instruction manual that covers every situation. No perfect plan that removes all risk.

"The mindset shifts that actually help you escape [the Prison of Certainty] and start making real progress."

The shift isn't about getting more information. It's about changing how you think about uncertainty.

Ali's coached hundreds of students through this exact block. And here's what actually gets people unstuck:

Stop waiting for the feeling of being "ready." It's not coming.

The people making progress? They started before they felt ready. They figured it out along the way.

You can't think your way to clarity. You have to act your way there.

One day of actually doing the thing teaches you more than a month of planning.

Perfection is the enemy of done.

Your first YouTube video doesn't need to be as good as MrBeast. Your first client doesn't need to be a Fortune 500 company. Your first workout doesn't need to be an hour long.

It just needs to happen.

When you're stuck in planning mode, failure feels catastrophic. Like if you mess up once, it's all over.

But in reality? Most failures are just data. They tell you what doesn't work so you can adjust.

The people who succeed aren't the ones who never fail. They're the ones who fail faster and learn quicker.

Here's what it comes down to:

Would you rather spend another year researching, planning, and staying safe in the Prison of Certainty?

Or would you rather spend that year actually trying, failing, learning, and making real progress toward your goals?

Because one year from now, you'll have either:

The choice is yours.

Pick one thing you've been overthinking.

Just one.

Now ask yourself: "What's the smallest version of this I could start today?"

Not next week. Not when conditions are perfect. Today.

It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't even have to be good.

It just has to be real.

Smart people overthink because they can see all the possibilities.

But progress doesn't come from seeing possibilities. It comes from choosing one and moving forward, even without certainty.

The Prison of Certainty feels safe because it protects you from failure.

But it also protects you from success, growth, and actually living the life you want.

"These are lessons I've learned building my own business and coaching hundreds of students through the exact same blocks."

Ali's been there. He built his business by doing, not just planning. And he's watched hundreds of students break free from this same trap.

You can too.

Stop waiting for perfect conditions.

Start taking imperfect action.

And watch what happens when you trade certainty for momentum.

{If you like this thread, reply and tell me your thoughts about how you can implement these into your life and business}