For better or worse, some of these steps can be skipped or ignored:
Risking the alienation of friends and family.
Buying a whole new wardrobe.
Learning how to walk in heels
Vocal training
Learning how to wear makeup
Remembering to sit to pee.
Getting told that you’ll never look like a girl.
Going through counseling sessions.
Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy
Starting a YouTube channel
Watching a lot of Star Trek
Getting surgeries to remove parts you don’t need.
Getting surgeries to add parts you do need.
Getting surgeries to look more like how you want to look.
Getting told that you’ll never look like a man.
Worrying daily about the new laws getting passed that threaten your very existence.
Worrying daily about the redneck losers who might shoot you or your friends over your very existence.
Worrying daily about whether your more obscure references are getting noticed.
Things like that.