Hey Reader,

You’re not stuck because you’re lazy.

You’re stuck because you think you need to know everything before you begin.

That belief quietly paralyses aspiring or new analysts and scouts.

They wait. They prepare. They read and plan and scroll.

But they don’t move.

When I first started, I thought the same

I assumed I needed paid data.

I thought I had to do a course before I could visualise anything. I believed I had to be qualified before I shared a single insight. Turns out, I was wrong on all three.

What I actually needed was free data, a basic understanding of Tableau, and a willingness to figure things out as I went.

That was enough to start. And starting changed everything.

The Boring Truth: You don’t need more knowledge

Here’s where most aspiring professionals get caught:

They think they need to know a large amount of information on the topic to get started.

There’s a huge amount of information out there. But to begin? You only need the basics as a starting point.

The fraction of knowledge required to take your first step is probably 1/100th of what you think.

Yet we keep chasing the other 99%. Not to learn, but to delay.

This is where “learning” becomes comfortable avoidance.

It feels like progress. But it isn’t.

Here’s the shift: know what the dip feels like

Most people start with excitement.

New tools. New ideas. Forward motion. But after a while, the curve drops. Progress slows. Frustration builds.

That’s the dip.

It’s the moment where:

• You don’t know where to get the right data
• You feel like your work isn’t “good enough”
• You’re struggling with a new visualisation
• No one’s giving you feedback

And it’s exactly where most people quit.

Not because they’re unmotivated.

But because it suddenly feels like they’re not cut out for it.

It’s not just the dip. It’s what comes after

When the learning gets hard, most people assume they’ve done something wrong.

So they retreat. Back to more tutorials. Back to planning. Back to researching what they already know.

But that’s not learning. That’s avoiding.

The hard part isn’t starting. It’s staying when progress slows and doubt kicks in.

That’s the work.

So here’s the honest question

Are you learning to move forward or learning to delay?

Because if you're working evenings, around a job, trying to break into the game...

You don’t have time for disguised procrastination. You don’t need another tutorial. You don’t need to perfect your process.

You just need to start.

And keep going when it gets hard.

Have a great week.

Liam

Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you: ​Free 1-2-1 Breakthrough Call - Frustrated trying to break into football recruitment? Tired of rejection after rejection? No idea how to get your first role in professional scouting or analysis? Get your free Football Career breakthrough Call to create a clear pathway to reach your goals in the football industry. ​Recruitment Room - My online membership community helps aspiring and new football professionals secure jobs working in recruitment. Master the four pillars of scouting, analysis, online portfolio, and employment. Learn from industry experts through our workshops, hot seats, and live sessions.