half the battle

phrase

: an important and necessary part of doing or achieving something

I think you will prosper, for the sincere wish to be good is half the battle.

—Louisa May Alcott

In the positioning war, half the battle is picking the right enemy.

—Ted Morgan

—often used with words like only and just to stress that something is not enough by itself to achieve a desired goal

Selecting which partners and investors to woo is only half the battle. Knowing how to pitch them is equally important.

—Michelle Goodman