Stop Planning, Start Doing

In the past, I’ve spent a lot of time planning to do something, and made very little progress. Once I left planning behind and got to work on the doing, progress flowed quickly.

Getting ready to do something is comfortable. We’re in our safe place and not out in the open. Our preparations are seen only by ourselves. No one criticizes and nothing is at risk. We have total control.

Once we start doing, we’re exposed. Our work appears in the sunlight for all to see. Some may love it, but, undoubtedly, some will hate it. It’s the risk we take when we actually do something and we can’t control either reaction. It’s foolish to even try. All we can do is the work, and the real work lies in the doing.

This doesn’t mean you should rush into a new venture with no planning at all. Planning is an important and necessary step, but it’s also where people stall the most. Like getting a rocket to the launch pad and never firing the engines. A rocket can only sit upright and ready to go for so long before the launch environment becomes unstable.

There’s very little value created in getting ready to do something. There’s extraordinary value in saying, “Come hell or high water, I start today,” and then following through on that statement.

This is the right time of year, the right month, the right week. Today is Monday, a perfect day to start. Even one small action taken moves the needle from “I’m getting ready to start” to “I started.” Put all of the plans in the drawer, strap on your helmet, and fire the engines.

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