The 5th Key To Success: Take Action!

So you wanna be successful, right?

You've done the courses, read the books, went to the seminars, set your goals, closed yourself off in a dark room and manifested your success, but it still hasn't appeared in front of you - meanwhile, you see other people around you getting results - your results, what you wanted to be achieving.... Why is that?

Clearly, there is something missing from your formula...

How about taking action and actually doing whatever it is you need to do? No, I mean what you REALLY need to be doing, not those procrastinating little side jobs you do to keep busy to tell yourself you are doing stuff.

Reading books is great an' all, and I'll never knock learning, but there comes a point when you know enough and you just have to get out and do it, and trust me - I am an expert in this field!

I read 132 personal development type books before I got started - I did courses on this, courses on that - when I didn't achieve after one course I figured the course was lacking - maybe the next one has what I need, that missing piece I was looking for, that golden nugget, always searching.

Then, some £20,000 worth of courses later I got fed up and decided to focus on my career for a while (the one thing I had actually stuck at for some time) - I applied what I had been learning to my career - setting goals, meditation, focus, adding value, becoming a more valuable person, critical thinking and so on, and...

...This shit works!

I literally manged to 10x my income in 18 months to multiple 6 figures, an amount i didn't even know was possible in my profession (I'm a Civil Engineer) - all through changing the way I think. This is why I am so passionate about personal development and it's role in attaining success for you.

The thing is, I learnt a lot of stuff, but I never applied it - not fully.

All the business ideas I started, I never stuck to them - not long enough to make it work. This blog as a matter of fact was one of my 'procrastination failures' in itself - I started it 2 and a half years ago but it never gained traction, so I let it slide.

So, recently I thought -"Fuck it!" and decided I would get back to blogging and stick at it - I like doing it, I love sharing advice and my perspective - especially when it helps someone, and I feel like I have something to say, given all my prior investment and failures - so here I am, putting in the action and walking the talk...

And that's what you need to be doing too, if you want to succeed at anything.

The Importance of Taking Action to Achieve Success

Taking action is an important step in achieving success because it allows you to move forward and make progress towards your goals. Without taking action, it is difficult to achieve success because you are not actively working towards your goals. Taking action requires effort and determination, but it is worth it in the long run because it can help you achieve the results you want.

Here are some reasons why taking action is important for success:

• It helps you to clarify your goals and priorities: By taking action, you can identify what is most important to you and focus your energy on those tasks.

• It allows you to learn and grow: When you take action, you have the opportunity to learn from your experiences and use that knowledge to improve your skills and abilities.

• It helps you to overcome obstacles: By taking action, you can overcome the challenges and obstacles that stand in your way.

• It helps you to build momentum: When you take action consistently, you can build momentum and make progress towards your goals.

• It helps you to achieve your goals: Ultimately, taking action is the key to achieving your goals and achieving success.

In short, taking action is an essential part of the success process. It requires effort and determination, but it is worth it in the long run because it can help you achieve the results you want.

Taking action versus being busy

Taking action and being busy are not the same thing. Taking action refers to actively working towards a goal or objective, while being busy refers to being occupied or having a lot of tasks or responsibilities. It is possible to be busy without necessarily taking action towards a specific goal, and it is also possible to take action without being busy all the time.

Here are some key differences between taking action and being busy:

1. Focus: Taking action involves focusing on specific tasks or objectives, while being busy often involves juggling multiple tasks or responsibilities at once.

2. Purpose: Taking action is driven by a clear purpose or goal, while being busy may not necessarily have a specific end goal in mind.

3. Productivity: Taking action can lead to increased productivity because it allows you to make progress towards your goals. Being busy, on the other hand, does not necessarily lead to increased productivity if the tasks being completed are not aligned with a specific goal.

It is important to find a balance between taking action and being busy. While it is important to take action towards your goals, it is also important to manage your time and energy effectively and not get too caught up in being busy for the sake of it.

I know I need to take action, but i just don't - why?

There can be a variety of reasons why someone might struggle to take action, even when they know they need to. Here are a few potential reasons that might be causing this difficulty:

1. Procrastination: Procrastination is the act of delaying tasks or activities until a later time. It can be a common obstacle to taking action, and it can be caused by a variety of factors such as lack of motivation, fear of failure, or difficulty prioritizing tasks.

2. Lack of motivation: If you lack motivation, it can be difficult to find the energy and drive to take action. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as lack of interest in the task, lack of clear goals, or a lack of reward or recognition for your efforts.

3. Fear of failure: If you are afraid of failing, it can be difficult to take action because you may be afraid of the consequences of failing. This fear can be caused by a lack of confidence in your abilities or a belief that failure is unacceptable.

4. Lack of clear goals: If you don't have clear goals or a clear plan for achieving them, it can be difficult to take action because you may not know what steps to take or how to prioritize your efforts.

5. External distractions: External distractions such as social media, emails, or other tasks can also be a barrier to taking action.

If you are struggling to take action, it may be helpful to try to identify the specific reason or reasons why this is happening. Once you have a better understanding of the root cause, you can work on developing strategies to overcome these obstacles and take action towards your goals.

Tips To Help You Take Action

Once you get stuck in a rut procrastinating, it seems like there is no way to break out of it - you can't figure out just what it is you need to do to move forward in the right direction to achieve your desired outcome, whatever that may be.

But....

Don't worry!

We all go through these stages - we are after all only human, right? (well, at least until the robots take over, but that's another post...)

The thing with taking action is, we need to start somewhere - something, just one little thing that we can do that we can take the smallest of successes from.

That little win right there will then build you up just enough to try something bigger, then when you do that, you will take on something bigger still - it's a snowball effect, soon you will will feel like Rocky running up those steps throwing punches in the air!

To set you on the right path, I have put together some of my top tips for taking action to break you out of that stale mate and get you back on the road to success:

1. Identify the root cause: It can be helpful to try to understand the underlying reason for your procrastination. Is it a lack of motivation? Fear of failure? Difficulty prioritizing tasks? Having a better understanding of the root cause can help you to develop strategies to address it.

2. Set clear goals: Setting clear and specific goals can help you focus your efforts and stay motivated. Make sure your goals are realistic, measurable, and achievable.

Of course, you should already have your main goals (because that is what you need help taking action to complete, right?), but you need to start small.

Set yourself daily goals - small tasks to complete each day. I like to set 3 goals that I must complete that day, plus an extra 2 that it would be good to complete if I can.

Write them down and cross them off as you do them - at the end of the week you will be able to see your progress as you will have 15-25 achievements - progress!

3. Break tasks down into smaller steps: Large tasks can feel overwhelming, which can lead to procrastination.

If you aren't progressing because the task in front of you seems huuuuuuge - try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. This process can help you feel more in control and make progress towards your goals.

Need to write a report or a new book? no you don't, you just need to gather some information,then you need to set out the template, then decide on headings, then work on a section at a time or write 100 words, then proof read it, the voila!

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time...

5. Remove distractions: Distractions such as..... hold on, I got a notification..... .... ... .. . right, where was I? Ohh yeah, social media, emails, or other tasks can be a major source of procrastination.

Try to minimize distractions by setting boundaries and creating a focused work environment.

Turn off your notifications (or just turn off your phone altogether), close down browser tabs you don't need open - and no, you don't need Facebook open!

Clear your desk, move to a quiet room or somewhere where you won't be disturbed, turn off your emails (it's a good productivity habit to only answer emails at set times of the day), stick on some headphones (noise cancelling ones work great) and focus on what you need to be doing.

6. Use accountability: Having someone to hold you accountable can be a powerful motivator. Consider finding an accountability partner or joining a group of like-minded individuals who can provide support and encouragement.

You can join groups online that pair you with a partner if need be, but if you prefer to use someone you know, it's best that it is a person you respect that you wouldn't want to let down

7. Reward yourself: It can be helpful to reward yourself for making progress towards your goals. This can help you stay motivated and focused on your tasks.

Setting yourself a reward for reaching a certain milestone will give you something to work towards - go out for a meal, a new outfit, a gaming night (or whatever hobby you are into) or anything else that feels deserving.

Remember, overcoming procrastination takes time and effort, but with practice and persistence, you can learn to take action and make progress towards your goals.

10 Quotes on Taking Action

Here are ten quotes on taking action for success:

1. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." - Lao Tzu

2. "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar

3. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs

4. "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." - Will Rogers

5. "The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." - Vidal Sassoon

6. "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese Proverb

7. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

8. "The only way to do something is to start doing it." - Tim Fargo

9. "The best revenge is massive success." - Frank Sinatra

10. "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean

Final Thoughts

So yeah, what else is there to say - you just need to start getting shit done.

Don't be a me and waste years and thousands of digits always searching - just pick something you want to do, something you want to be great at, and just focus on doing that and getting great at it.

Everything is starting to come together for me finally, hopefully it will for you too soon. I am going to focus more on growing this blog and turning it into my next big success so I can start winning back my time - and I hope you will come along for the ride with me.

Well, that's all folks - if you enjoyed the read, let me know. Give me some feedback it the comments - it would be appreciated as it will help me to tailor my posts to your liking, also why not subscribe to my mailing list so I can shoot you over some awesome tips and motivational stuff from time to time to keep you pumped?