As I read that statement in the Dallas airport bookstore, I realized that the one thing that separates a successful person from those less successful is the ability, the desire to take action. Knowledge and skill are not enough.
" The world doesn't pay you for what you know, it pays you for what you do.."
In my experience as a coach, I've worked with many business owners who have wonderful ideas, fantastic skills and knowledge. But what they don't have is the desire to take everything they know and believe and move forward into action. Instead they hold themselves back, doing one more revision of their website, one more revision of their marketing plan...because once they get it perfect, they know that they'll experience the success they desire. Of course the big question is, when will it be perfect?
How much time do you spend planning and thinking about how to make your business a success? Has your planning kept you from putting yourself out there? Have you used it as an excuse? Does holding yourself back benefit you? Sure. It keeps you safe. Safe from experiencing success or failure. Holding yourself back reinforces your fears and self-doubts.
Don't get me wrong, you must think about your business, plan your course of action, and plan your marketing and growth?.but in the end, all that thinking and planning won't achieve anything if you don't put your plans, your thoughts, your ideas into action. Plans are just ideas until you make them a reality by taking action.
What are some action steps that will help move your plans from ideas to reality?
* Have a vision
* Plan in stages, small steps are easier to achieve
* Visualize yourself, as you'd like to be. Act as if you are already the success you desire
* Continue to educate yourself
* Commit to your desires
* Begin the process now
Don't wait until you have all your marketing materials and website perfect. Begin now! Waiting for perfection assures only one thing and that is that you will continue to wait. Taking action now will bring you valuable experience and insights into what works and what doesn't work for you.
"Planning has its place, but it must be kept in perspective. Some people spend their whole lives waiting for the perfect time to do something. There's rarely a "perfect" time to do anything. What is important is to just get started. Get in the Game!" -Jack Canfield
What if you make some mistakes? What if you don't experience the results you desire? Great! Take that information and use it as a learning opportunity. The information you learn about yourself and your business is invaluable. Mistakes are just opportunities for learning something new.
To truly experience success, you have to be fearless! You have to be willing to make mistakes. To have some things work out in a way you haven't planned; to get embarrassed. To find yourself in a position to learn from the opportunities that are presenting themselves to you. Fear is the one thing that assures that you will hold yourself back. If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to experience what you've always experienced.
Fear is simply your imagination running the show....it isn't real.
F= Fantasized E= Experiences A= Appearing R= Real
Release your fears. Don't be afraid to take action. You can and should continue to improve your services and materials- just give yourself permission to learn as you go. When you learn from your experiences, when you take action, things happen much quicker.
Get off the sidelines and GET IN THE GAME!
Remember, like anything else, good ideas are only that- good ideas, if we don't take action and get proactive.
Just do it!
Normally people think about their "resolutions" in late December, or, on New Year's Day. They write down their goals for the upcoming year. Many times these goals are referred to as "resolutions." But when August rolls around, for many people, their goals and resolutions have been long since forgotten.
People abandon their resolutions because they either had no plan, or they did not follow their plan. They may have looked at their goals on a regular basis. They may even written up affirmations to say aloud every day. But those kinds of activities will not magically bring your goals into reality.
I am aware that there are countless ideas, suggestions, methods and programs designed to help people achieve their goals. Many tools exist, such as writing exercises, vocalizing affirmations, visualizing goals or even carrying pieces of paper around as reminders.
Some methods and activities can be very helpful. One method may help one person while another method will help someone else. But unless a plan exists that includes action towards reaching that goal, it just will not happen.
For example, let's say that your goal is to arrive at and maintain a certain body weight. You write your goal down on paper. You vocalize it and visualize it in your mind. You are excited about reaching your goal.
Those are all wonderful tools to help your mind stay on course and to remember your destination, but unless you change your eating habits and your exercising habits, nothing is going to change. You won't be losing any weight. In fact, you might keep gaining!
You need an action plan that is specific to your goal. Then, you take the action faithfully. And if you need to revise the plan, or tweak it, then that's what you do.
This morning, as I was reviewing my specific goals for the year, I made some changes because one of my goals is now a reality. Last January I had a goal to have a membership website up and running this year. I looked at that goal every day, prayed about it, and, had positive thoughts and affirmations throughout the day.
But, if that's all that I would have done, the website would not be up and running today. I had a plan and I worked that plan. I revised the plan along the way, but the goal was still the same.
So, now, getting the site up and running is no longer a goal. I have new goals for the site. I have written them down. I am exited about them. I pray about it, I think and speak positively about it, and, I have an action plan.
Methods and programs can be a great help. They can keep you focused on the goal. They can serve to remind you of where you want to go. But they, in and of themselves, cannot bring your goals into reality.
I know that you have probably seen advertisements, just like I have that lure people into thinking that there is a "magical formula." Just do this 3 times a day, and "presto" your whole life will change! I saw an ad once for a CD that you listen to before you go to bed and you can loose weight! They even added, "Without changing your diet or exercise!"
Whether it's get rich quick, instant weight loss or perfect abs in thirty seconds, why do so many people buy into those kinds of things? Maybe it's because we live in such an instantaneous culture, with instant potatoes, and a full meal in thirty seconds from the drive-through, or instant messaging. People have become lazy and are looking for the quick, instant fix for everything.
By all means, use whatever tools or methods that help you to stay on course. Be sure to guard your thoughts. Keep your thinking positive. But for every goal that you have, implement and revise an action plan. Then, take the action necessary to see that goal come to pass. And, try to do something every day to reach your goal, no matter how small or insignificant it seems.
So, are you ready to revise your August resolutions?
Both Laurie Bornstein & Michael A. Verdicchio are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Laurie Bornstein has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Etiquette. Feng Shui Teacher and Entrepreneur Laurie Bornstein, "The Feng Shui Marketing Queen" is the author and creator of 'Simple Feng Shui Series', her FREE monthly ezine filled with articles and tips on how to live and work in balance, visit http://www.fen. Laurie Bornstein's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.