Ah, the complexities of business. To buy? To sell? What is the market looking like? How will inflation impact everything? Should the business plan be revised or tossed out the window? Running, selling or buying a business continually has levels of complexity. It seems human thought lingers in the areas of extremes: patience or action; to wait or to take the leap.
I come from a different school of thought. I believe we should do both. What of the middle path? A person who takes action too quickly is often made a fool. While a person sits around and waits is left in a cloud of dust as everyone leaves them behind.
Educated action is what I call it. Do the research, ponder for a while, but then be decisive.
The problem is that many people get stuck in the pondering phase.
As founder of Serve and Lead Chris Shilling, who is an author, speaker, consultant, and leadership coach notes:“One average idea put into action is far more valuable than 20 genius ideas that are being saved.”
He outlines what he calls “The Action Habit” in one of his blogs that explains the “7 Proven Ways to Move From Deciding to Doing.”
That is the crux of life and business, isn’t it? Deciding to do something and actually doing it are two very different things. Look at the people who buy gym memberships every year for New Year’s resolutions and never step into the gym for the rest of the year after January and maybe a couple of weeks into February.
Decisions only have value when they are followed by consistent action.
Shilling’s Way #1: Stop waiting until conditions are perfect.
There is no such thing as perfection; waiting for perfection means you will wait forever without progress.
“There will always be something that is not right or could be better. There is no perfect time; there is only the present time,” he writes. Take action and adjust as needed as you achieve forward progress, he explains – the perfect time to start was last year, but the second best time to start is now.
Schilling’s Way #2: Stop, get up, and do it.
Become a doer. If you hit pause for too long, you lose motivation and allow for too much doubt to enter your mind.
Schilling’s Way #3: Stop over-thinking things
Here is where I differ with him a bit in mindset. I believe analysis is essential to sound decision making. However, he is right that over-thinking can produce the “paralysis of analysis.”
Sometimes it is better to go with gut instinct when starting to feel overwhelmed and immobilized by thought.
Schilling’s Way #4: Take continuous action.
Keep the momentum on your side. Do “something productive related to your idea every day,” he writes. Little tasks add up and bolster confidence.
Schilling’s Way #5: Use your action to overcome fear.
Action can become a balm for fear. The willingness to face the things that scare us can build confidence and prime us for success.
Schilling’s Way #6: Focus on the present.
It is wise to focus on what can be done right now instead of perpetually reflecting on the missed opportunities of the past or other opportunities too far into the future.
Schilling’s Way #7: Eliminate the distractions.
“Focus in and drown out the distractions,” he writes. “and you will gain momentum from your production.”
Educated action. Think, but then do. Do not become fearful, complacent or distracted. Focus, work and have faith in your abilities.
