Remember Disney’s Frozen? The original was a cultural phenomenon partly because nobody knew what to expect, but upon its release, its catchy soundtrack was being sung by every young girl under the age of 12 for at least 18 months. More than the animation style and the story, it was the songs that were inescapable, whether it was “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman”, “For the First Time in Forever”, “Love is an Open Door”, “In Summer” and of course the little girl anthem “Let it Go” . When the buzz began to rise regarding Frozen 2, it faced the burden of huger expectations, and had to clear a much higher bar. More characters, more advancement in animation, and bigger songs were composed. “Into the Unknown” had much bigger notes to hit, and the critics would debate, generally coming to the consensus that it couldn’t quite capture lightning in a bottle twice, despite being technically superior in many ways.
This is the reality of venturing into uncharted territory. Your first business, first book, first sermon, first creative project – they’re all leaps into the unknown. There is no precedent, no roadmap, and no guarantee of success. And that’s precisely what makes them powerful.
“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”
Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)
I’m writing this as someone taking a leap of my own. Into the unknown some might say. As I work on authoring my first book, it’s honestly terrifying. I could spend years studying other authors, analysing what works, aiming to perfect my approach. But then I’d be following someone else’s blueprint rather than creating my own. Inspiration from others might be good, but to use the work of those you respect as something you wish to emulate can be restricting. Sometimes over-analysis can be the cause for paralysis.
Here’s what I’ve realised: you can either let the work of others become a point of crippling comparison, or you can use your blank slate as an opportunity to set a new precedent.
Every expert was once a beginner. Every successful person once took their first step into uncertainty. Will you take yours?
The unknown isn’t your enemy – it’s your opportunity. It’s where innovation happens, where breakthrough moments occur, where you discover capabilities you never knew you possessed. Don’t let the fear of the unfamiliar hold you back from pioneering something uniquely yours. Take the leap. Set the precedent. Give it a go.
