Action. They take action and they do it quickly — even when they’re not sure how they’re going to accomplish whatever the goal or objective is. I know this because I have worked with each one of them on their book campaigns.
This post is not about goal setting. Heaven knows there is plenty advice out there about that. It is, however, about clarity, and what can sometimes stand in the way of that.
Deciding what we want, making a plan, and taking action is what needs to be done–whatever it is that you want.
But I have found when working with clients who are in the process of building their own influence, there is a tendency to avoid the most important things that need to be done. Sometimes the avoidance is due to overwhelm, sometimes it’s because there just doesn’t seem to be enough time, sometimes it’s because they’re having trouble figuring out what they really want, and most often it simply comes down to fear.
The big four letter word that can ruin anything. Fear.
That’s not to say that sometimes fear can’t be your best friend. If you look up and a bus is barreling toward you, fear’s flight response is going to save you. It becomes your best friend, and that is a very good thing.
We’re talking about fear in another context; Fear that stops you from taking action when it would be good for you.
Fear is tricky. Sometimes it masks itself as boredom. Sometimes as confusion. Sometimes as disinterest. If you’re lucky, you feel it as fear because you’re getting a direct message. If you feel it, you can heal it, as they say. When fear is hiding, it’s more difficult.
So how do we get beyond any fears, however they’re disguised, and move into action? Great question. Here are some tips:
1. Identify it: Are you actively going after the things you say you want? If you say you want something, yet you’re not taking action to get it, fear may be stopping you.
2. Remember that it’s all in your head: You’re inventing it. If a lion is chasing you down the street, then fear is a totally appropriate response. If, however, you’re avoiding learning how to do video, or attending sessions on media training for doing interviews, or you’re hesitant to conduct cold calls, then that fear is all in your head.
3. Challenge it: Ask yourself this question: “If I didn’t feel stuck, or frustrated, overwhelmed, or fearful, would I go after my dreams? Is this fear in my head really stopping me?”
4. Try a new mantra: One of my favorite mantras when I was learning to cold call as a publicist was to pick up the phone to call a producer at The View or Oprah and say to myself, “Oh, what the hell!” and just do it. It got easier, but initially when I was first starting out, it was scary.
5. Pretend you’re someone else: Pick a person you know who could easily do what you’re scared to do, or think of a celebrity who would never hesitate to do what you want to do, and pretend you’re them. As the famous slogan says, “Just do it!”
You don’t have to stay stuck. You can move beyond it and into action as so many of the thought leaders have done. Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, Dave Ramsey, and Geneen Roth have had moments of fear — but they challenged it. They learned from it, and they took action anyway. So can you!
To your success!
Joanne
P.S. Here are some of the nice things Brian, Ken and Geneen have said about our work together. I feel really fortunate for the amazing clients I have had the pleasure to collaborate with.