Getting Over The Hump: How to Stop Sitting and Start Taking Action

Have you been sitting there right at the cusp of taking action on a particular project but still haven't gotten started? How long has it been since you originally had the kernel of that new idea spring forth up until this point? Has it been a few hours, days, weeks or longer?

If you're like most people, it's been longer -- much longer. In fact, most people never get over the hump of beginning. Even those of us who are involved in product production periodically have the procrastination problem when it comes to certain aspects of our business.

What is it that makes us delay? We know we shouldn't. We know that sitting around or avoiding the task at hand will not lead to the desired results we seek. There must be something going on with our thinking that isn't quite right. What might this thing be?

One of the key reasons for procrastination is the deep down belief that the task we're about to undertake will not succeed. After all, if we believed that it would succeed, wouldn't we be incredibly motivated to take action? I believe we would. I think we all do take action when we know the outcome will be successful.

Take an example: If I know that I can earn X amount each day by just going to my job, and this is pretty much guaranteed even if putting in the minimum, will I continue to go to my job? Yes, more than likely. This is the dreaded "Not uncomfortable enough to change" syndrome. But I keep doing it because I've proven to myself from experience that it works; at least it works satisfactorily enough.

We also get caught up in the "Preparation Syndrome". We've all heard of it, and some of us have different names for it, such as: Analysis of paralysis; thinking too much; or overanalyzing, etc. But it is a daily rut many land in despite their objective knowledge of its reality and the benefit of staying away from it. Once again, why is this?

Knowledge is an interesting distinction in itself, but most people do not separate knowledge from action adequately enough. Simply having the knowledge of facts has proven insufficient to achieve results throughout history. The sooner we all convince ourselves that simply having knowledge is adequate to obtain results, the sooner we each as individuals will be able to move on to the next logical conclusion and increase our chances of success.

So I say, "Knowledge is NOT power". I've decided this for myself long ago. Perhaps you have now also done the same.

So what is it? What is "knowledge"? Simply, it is a prerequisite to power and results.

So our next logical conclusion leads us to one we've probably already heard many times. "Knowledge is power when acted upon". Much closer to reality by far I'd say. The only problem is it leaves a lot of room for interpretation of what action is. In fact, most failures in business and life are in the area of "how" we acted once we've decided to finally act.

Once again, most people don't act. They never even begin. Those who do only do so for a little while and in a half hearted manner at that. Then fewer still who do actually act consistently for long enough to see some results may not be acting in a manner that will ultimately bring results.

This is exciting news! This distinction is actually meant to encourage you to understand that if you wish to see results long term, the first step on that journey is to get over that first hump of beginning as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner you will begin to inculcate the habit of action and can move on to the second phase of consistency. Most individuals will still not be acting in effective ways for lack of experience, but this is fine! This is a time period when creating the habit and skills are more important than the actual results of that action.

And this is the exciting message here within. Get over that hump. Learn to build at least one habit that will benefit you long term and will eventually bring true rewards. Pick something and begin. Then continue. You'll enjoy the progress you can naturally make each day much more than trying to continue thinking and planning and not making progress. I can assure you of that.

There is of course much ground to cover with regards to what I alluded to before concerning people still not acting in a manner that brings results, but we all bring results in accord with our level of expertise, and sitting and thinking ‘about' something is not the same as doing and learning from the activity.

Start now. You'll be over your hump as soon as you do.

© Copyright 2006 David Marcotte all rights reserved