Subscribe (RSS)How often do you find yourself not moving forward with action steps towards a goal just because you’re waiting for something else to happen first? And, how often do you allow this to become an obstacle to moving forward – getting stuck in perpetual limbo?
Many times we feel that we don’t have control over the progress of our lives because of some other factor or person.
“I’ll start that project when I get the proper funding.”
“I can’t set that call up with the prospect until Joe gets me all of the details!”
“I need to think this through further and understand all the angles before I move forward.”
It’s quite normal to want to feel prepared and have everything in place for the best start before actually beginning. But at what point does it become paralysis by analysis? Your excuse for not “getting out there”? Or your story for postponing action?
Waiting can be a form of self defense — fearing that either we will ‘get hurt’ or ‘look bad’ by not succeeding. We look for this ‘X’ factor that somehow will make it all come together just perfectly… and so we wait. We spend so much time and energy convincing others and ourselves of all the reasons that we shouldn’t or can’t move forward. We miss the very point that the ‘X’ factor has been there all along… sitting in the mirror.
It’s at these times of “waiting” that we need to ask ourselves, what’s really holding us back? If I had that missing piece of information, that feedback from whomever, that ‘X’ factor that I’ve been waiting on, what could I then do? What are 3 others ways I could make some progress toward my goal without waiting?
Consider that there are other options. Consider that it may be fear that’s holding you back. Consider what it would take and most importantly what it would feel like – despite the fear and desire to ‘wait’ until the stars are aligned – to take action, to get busy, to muster up the courage and press forward knowing that you will be able to do the best you can at the moment? How might this “Get Busy” attitude create a whole new paradigm for your life?
“Perhaps by putting together people and pieces for this project I’ll come across new avenues for funding and be that much further along when the money comes along.”
“I should call that prospect and find out what her schedule looks like so that we can set up a call. This will keep us in contact and move things along. I’ll ask Joe to get in on the call so he’s aware of the timeline and feels some level of urgency with regards to that info that I requested from him”
We all have a choice in every moment. How do you want to focus your thoughts and energy?
Which would you prefer: to stand still and look at what didn’t happen; or, to move forward with passion and excitement looking forward to what will happen next?
We all have RESPONSE-ABILITY – that is, the ability to respond, the ability to make things happen, the ability to set the example for what we want to ask of others, and the energy to not only take action, but to inspire others to take action as well.
So what’s it going to take for you to “get busy”?
D. Luke Iorio
President and CEO