def METHOD_NAME(self, state, start_date):
    try:
        dt = state['bookmarks'][self.schema][self.state_field]
        if dt is not None:
            self.initial_state = pendulum.parse(dt)
            self.earliest_state = self.initial_state
            return
    except (TypeError, KeyError) as e:
        pass
    self.initial_state = start_date
    self.earliest_state = self.initial_state