Everyone has ideas. Ideas for businesses, products, events, books, films, articles, etc. They’re all worthless. That is until someone takes action.
When ideas combine with action, we can create real value. Unfortunately, far too many ideas never get a chance. Most ideas get filed away into the ‘someday’ folder of our brains, which for many, is actually the ‘never’ folder.
Real Value is in Action & Execution
Some people like to keep ideas to themselves, for fear that someone is going to steal their idea. These people believe that their ideas alone have value. In reality, the value of an idea is only realized through hard work and proper execution.
Other’s like to make statements like, “I wish I would have thought of that” when they see a new product on the shelf. They are assuming the value is in the idea, not the hard work of actually taking a product to the market.
Set A Goal
Like a ship without a captain, action without direction can be a disaster. Take the time to define your goal before you get started. We like the S.M.A.R.T. goal technique.
Take the First Step
Taking the first step is simple, but it isn’t easy. In fact, it may be the hardest part of any process. Fear and doubt begin to set in and we question if it’s the right decision. Steven Pressfield, in his book The War of Art, describes this pressure as ‘resistance’.
“Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experience it as an energy field radiating from a work-in-potential. It’s a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work.”
Don’t Wait for Perfection
There is rarely a perfect time for anything. The first attempt at something new isn’t going to be perfect. Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn once said, ” If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.”
The same is true for any worthwhile endeavor.
New photographers will take terrible photos. New writers will write jibberish. Entrepreneurs will stumble.
Zig Ziglar once said that “anything worth doing is worth doing poorly – until you can learn to do it well .”
In other words, don’t be afraid to suck. Everyone sucks at the start.
Don’t Be Normal
It’s normal to procrastinate and make excuses. Be part of the select few who are intentional. Why not close this browser window and take action on your goal right now?