The Next Two Steps (Creating Momentum When the Path Isn't Clear)

Most people don’t regret the risks they take.

They regret the hesitation.  They regret waiting too long to speak up, start over, take the chance, ask the question, pursue the idea, or make the move they knew mattered before fear, comfort, or overthinking convinced them to stay where they were.

In The Next Two Steps, entrepreneur, professor, and performance coach Nick Smarrelli presents a practical framework for breaking free from indecision, stagnation, and the hidden pull of the status quo through one simple but powerful idea:

You do not need the full roadmap to move forward.

You only need the next two steps.

Blending psychology, leadership, entrepreneurship, coaching, and personal stories, this book explores why individuals and organizations struggle to act even when they know change is necessary. We are wired to avoid embarrassment, uncertainty, criticism, and the possibility of failure. Inaction disguises itself as preparation. Endless discussion disguises itself as strategy. Overthinking creates the illusion of progress while momentum quietly disappears.

For individuals, this often looks like waiting until they feel more confident, more certain, or more prepared before making a move. For companies and teams, it looks like revisiting the same conversations, overanalyzing decisions, and remaining stuck in cycles of meetings, planning, and hesitation while little actually changes.

The reality is that confidence is rarely something you discover before action. Through practical tools and relatable examples, readers will learn how to:break through overthinking and indecision

build momentum before they feel fully ready

simplify overwhelming decisions into manageable next steps overcome the fear of looking foolish, failing, or getting it wrong create movement inside teams and organizations stuck in stagnation

stop mistaking planning for progress

build confidence through action instead of waiting for certainty

Whether you are building a business, changing careers, leading a company, starting over, or simply tired of feeling stuck, The Next Two Steps offers a grounded and practical framework for creating momentum in work and life.

Because meaningful change rarely starts with perfect clarity. It starts the moment someone decides to move.