How to Take Action Consistently
Actions speak louder than words. Talking and planning alone aren’t enough to make progress. We need to move from daydreaming and planning to action! We have to do something! Action is the key to all success.
The more action-oriented you are the more control you will gain control over your time. And if you don’t control your time, it will control you!
Realize nothing changes until you alter your behavior. Visualization and positive self-talk are important, but only effective if your behavior changes. You can try to wish your way to a new Mercedes, or to make a million dollars, but it won’t happen unless you physically do something different. Understand that consistent change in your behavior is the key to real change.
Be clear on the outcome you desire. It’s not easy to take action if you don’t know what you really want to accomplish. Be clear about your intention. Know what you really want to accomplish. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? What actions must you take today to move in that direction?
Start by taking small steps. Do you want to jog for 60 minutes each day? Get started by jogging for a few minutes each day and build on that. You won’t get in shape by exercising for only a couple of minute, but you will develop the needed habit. After a week, add more time to your exercise routine. After 4-6 weeks, you’ll have developed an exercise habit, and can begin to exercise in earnest. Does that schedule sound too easy? Then consider how much running you accomplished in the last 12 months. There’s nothing wrong with easy, if you’re patient and playing the long game.
Limit planning time. People who love to plan can be slow to take action. But even the best plans are worthless unless executed. While you’re working out the finest of details, others are getting ahead by taking care of business. There’s no reason to be hasty, but set a limit on how long you’re going to strategize before you begin to do something.
Reward yourself. Small rewards can help get you off the couch and busy. Reward yourself when you reach a milestone or complete a task. Get excited and take action. When you earn a reward, enjoy it.
Get started early. When you accomplish something worthwhile before 9AM, you’ll be motivated to do even more during the rest of the day. But when you fail to do anything substantial by noon, you feel bad about how you wasted the morning. Keep up that behavior and you'll quickly develop a bad habit that is hard to break.
Take a close look at the most successful people you know. You'll likely see there’s nothing exceptional about them. They aren’t smarter or more capable than you. But they get things accomplished each day because they take action consistently.
Time is precious, don't waste it! Consistent action is the key to wealth, weight loss, strong relationships, and everything else that matters in your life.
