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Just do it. Just Start.
It may be a saying but it’s also a philosophy of how to live.
Kevin Ham
December 26, 2024
When I make a film, I am hoping to reinvent the genre a little bit. I just do it my way. I make my own little Quentin versions of them... I consider myself a student of cinema. It's almost like I am going for my professorship in cinema, and the day I die is the day I graduate. It is a lifelong study.
1. Just Do It
You cannot unremember the simple command to ‘Just Do It’, but you must just do it when you are reminded of it.
In 1988, Nike needed a bold message to revive its brand. Dan Wieden found inspiration in an unusual source: the chilling last words of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore. Facing a firing squad in 1977, Gilmore grimly said, “Let's do it.” Wieden adapted this phrase into “Just Do It,” infusing it with determination and universal appeal. The slogan debuted with an ad featuring 80-year-old Bill Bowerman, Nike's co-founder, legendary track coach, and innovator of the modern running shoe, showing that athletic spirit knows no age. This blend of grit and simplicity resonated deeply, transforming Nike into a cultural icon and inspiring millions to face challenges and chase their dreams.
It's a simple phrase that captures time and gives you the impetus to decide in your heart right now. Just do it!
How many times in your life have you felt the urge in your heart to say something or do something, but you lose that moment, and then days, weeks, years, and decades pass? That path you would have stepped into could have altered your life, the people you would have met, and the experiences you would have had.
Just do it. Now. In 2025.
2. Just Start
Take your first step. Determine to do it, knowing that it will open a whole new world filled with valleys, peaks and adventure that set your heart on fire.
Paired with ‘Just Do It’ is the shorter, more powerful phrase, ‘Just Start!’
By starting, taking the first step, you can open a whole new world of possibilities. Just imagine you decide to take a new path. As you walk down this path, you start to see new things. You meet new people and have new experiences compared to the traditional path you always travel. This spawns new insights, possibilities, and relationships that, in turn, open new doors and windows of opportunity.
In December 1998, during my last shift at Pediatric Emergency at Victoria Hospital in London, Canada, I decided to start an Internet business. I registered HostGlobal.com on January 10, 1999. By June 2000, when I finished my medical residency, I was making $30,000 USD/month. I decided to spend another six months on my business. It's now been 25 years, and I love it.
Read on for my big life question and three life lessons (only one-minute more). They have helped me in my life and I hope they help you in yours.