This Is Where Your Success Begins

Sometimes I imagine a world where simply making a plan, made the plan a reality.

Where simply wishing for something to be true, made it so.

Where simply writing down my goals created results.

But that’s just not the way that it works.

To have the life that you want, you have to do something.

You have to take action. And unfortunately, that’s the reason why so many purpose-driven women never accomplish the goals they say they want to achieve.

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Nothing Changes Until Your Behavior Changes

I can’t count the number of times I’d say I want one thing, but do another.

I’d get super clear and set my goals. I’d get my mind right and be ready to succeed. But then I’d keep doing the same old things. Those same old habits that did NOT bring me closer to my goals.

I was using my tools – visualization, affirmations, journaling – but yet I wasn’t making the right actions a consistent priority. I would do a little of this, and a little of that, and at the end of the day I’d make little progress in achieving my goals.

It wasn’t until I realized that my behavior had to change that I started to take action on a consistent basis.

It wasn’t until I became more action oriented that I gained control over my time.

It wasn’t until I stopped talking, planning, and daydreaming – and started doing – that I finally began to make progress in achieving my goals.

CONSISTENT ACTION creates results. Long-term, sustainable, ongoing results.

You can have the best goals. But goals without action are just wasted ideas. You have to take action. You have to spend the majority of your time actually doing something.

Plans Are Nothing Without Action

As a recovering obsessive planner, I can attest to the analysis paralysis that results from being stuck in planning mode.

Planning mode is safe. Planning mode allowed me to feel a sense of accomplishment, without having to actually do anything.

Then I realized, that my love for planning was a direct result of me being slow to take action.

The best plans are worthless until they’re executed. While I was busy working out all the fine details, everyone else around was already taking care of business. Putting their plans into place. Making their visions a reality.

There’s no reason to be hasty, but you need to set a limit on how long you’re going to strategize before you actually do _something_ to make your plans a reality.

The next time you’re looking over all the plans you haven’t started, make a promise to take at least ONE step.

You can have the best plans. But your plans are nothing without action. You have to spend the majority of your time actually doing something.

Action is the key.

Success Starts Here

I remember the moment I got the call that I was selected for my dream job. I could hardly contain myself – literally jumping for joy the second I hung up the phone.

As I reflected on my path to get there, I was struck by a recurring thought.

I took action. I kept pushing. I made it happen.

After 17 rejection letters, I started to get disheartened. After a handful of interviews that were simply about going through the motions, I started to have doubts. After a few calls letting me down gently, I started to lose hope.

When I saw the job announcement, I almost didn’t apply. Then I said to myself, “If it’s not meant for me, that’s fine. But I refuse to give up. I refuse to give in.”

I’ve often pondered what my path may have been had I not kept it moving. Had I stopped taking consistent action. Had I allowed my fears and doubts to win.

Here’s the thing I want you to take away from this: Success is the result of you going hard and not stopping.

Success is not the result of the things you do once or twice. Success is the result of what you do repeatedly. Success is the result of taking consistent action.

Action is the key. Consistent action is the magic pill. Action is what leads to the success stories you’re always seeing. And your story will be next as long as you keep taking ACTION.

Get started. Carry on. Don’t stop.

Stop Getting Inspired

A couple of years ago I attended one of the best personal development seminars I’ve had the privilege to experience, DreamBuilder Live with Mary Morrissey. On the third day, shortly before the seminar ended, Mary implored us to do one thing.

TAKE ACTION.

Mary said to the group, “Inspiration without action is just entertainment. Don’t just be entertained. Be changed. Be fired up. Take action.”

Then the voice inside my head echoed. I told myself, “Don’t do what you always do. Don’t get excited while you’re here but go home and settle back into your same old habits. Act on what you’ve learned. Act NOW to make your dreams a reality.”

And that’s what I did. I stopped researching all the ways that I could take action. I stopped thinking about taking action. I stopped planning how I’d take action. I simply acted.

Stop getting inspired!

Inspiration is great, but you have to follow it up with action. Immediate action. One step, then another, and then another.

Do something. Keep pushing. Make your goals happen. And live your dreams!

Put Your Inspiration Into Action

I’ve talked about the magic that happens when you commit to taking action.

Change your behavior, make progress on your plans, keep pushing forward, and refuse to just be entertained.

Now I challenge you to not just get inspired but to take it a step further. Put your inspiration into action. Take at least ONE step towards achieving your goals.

This action can be anything – “big” or “small” – something that gets you out of your head and into motion. An example of this could be to:

Grab your planner (or phone calendar) and pick a date. The date by which you will complete at least one thing that brings you closer to accomplishing your goals. Make it real, and hold yourself accountable to meeting that deadline.

Don’t wait to do this part. The sooner you set the date and start pumping yourself up to finish by then, the better.

I’d love for you to share in the comments section below ONE step you’re going to take to start acting on your plans and accomplish your goals.

If this is an area that you struggle with, I’d love to help. Schedule a free strategy session session with me and we’ll figure it out together.

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