Most of us have goals we want to achieve. In fact, we’ve talked about those goals here. But setting a goal and wanting to work towards it isn’t enough. Having a dream doesn’t make it a reality. In order to get somewhere, you need to take action.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. Sadly, we often put off doing something important – either because we don’t have the time or the information we need to move forward. We end up putting off our goals and waiting until we’re ready. But the truth is that we never feel 100% ready or know what to do in a new situation. As a result, our dreams seem daunting.
My encouragement? Don’t fall into that trap. Don’t become stagnant. There is always something you can do to move ahead. It may be a tiny step, but it is nonetheless a step “in the right direction.” The truth is, the perfect time to act is today. And you can start by simply asking yourself, “What can I start right now?”
How can you actually take that next step? How can you set yourself up for success start that one thing? I’ve created a tool (you can download it for free here) to help you think about your daily or weekly “to do list” or action plan. If you don’t have one, start there. Start by listing your “big ticket items.” These are bigger than tasks. They are the actions or milestones that advance you toward your goals. Next, for each of your big ticket items, answer the question “What’s the ONE THING I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” (This is a great question that I gleaned from the book The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. I highly recommend it!)
But, don’t just stop there. Too often we get it written out and leave it on the desk or file it in a drawer. Instead, keep the list with you. When you’re stuck and don’t know what step to take next, or you find you have some extra time, take action on your “small things”. That forward momentum will propel you to tackle more on your list each day.
This process is important because it highlights what you have control over right now and helps to “chunk” down the huge, making it manageable.
Start today. Start anywhere, but start. Because your dreams are worth it. You might not be able to accomplish them in full by next week. But, you can do the next thing.
It’s hard to get going on your goals when you haven’t been doing anything about them for a while. However, once you start setting your plans into motion, it gets easier. So take a small step in the right direction today.
You might be surprised at where you end up in a year from now.
——————–
Don’t forget to download your free “One Small Thing” worksheet to help you bring your big, beautiful dreams into small, actionable steps.
