By Brett Cafferty
There are many reasons we struggle to get in gear on whatever tasks or goals we have determined are important or necessary. Within the small business community, there are many professionals who are creative, capable, hard-working people that fully believe in the work or service they offer – but have a difficult time translating good intentions into tangible actions and often spend far too much time “getting ready to get ready.” Sound familiar?
If new year plans and resolutions haven’t come together yet, here are a few principles learned from my earlier days in sales that I thought were worth sharing and to be reminded of again myself!
Years ago, I participated in a national sales and business development program, and a portion of the curriculum explored topics and insights into the human condition and how we “tick.” I found this fascinating and along the way picked up many helpful “rules” that were highly beneficial. When we are faced with needing to act but are hesitant to do so, a great adage and basic rule to remember is:
“It’s not how you feel that determines how you act, it’s how you act that determines how you feel.”
It sounds counterintuitive, but in my own experience and in working with others, I have seen this proven hundreds of times. Making the first call, or first action, leads to the next. Having the first face-to-face interaction makes the second one easier. We feel better and more productive for making the effort, and positive outcomes often follow. The habit is developed and reinforced, making it easier to build on.
We often don’t feel like doing that one thing, but when we make ourselves take action, it’s a boost to our mindset.
From a business perspective – the more activity, the more contacts made, the greater the chances for success. Your learning curve is improved, and patterns of behavior are established that reinforce a “get out and do it” mentality. This also develops a resiliency that, when the days (or months or year) get tough, the default mindset is to press on, get up, and keep going.
And last, referring to lessons learned over the years that have been reinforced by mentors, co-workers, and authorities on the subject, when discouraged or in doubt, take action by simply doing the next thing. Regardless of the type of business or venture, there should be a basic “recipe” of activities that, when done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, will lead to results. This plan should be simple, easy to track, and shared with others for feedback or accountability.
When the days are long and you get discouraged, the simple act of following your plan by doing the next thing will result in a mental “boost” to help your attitude and perspective.
From a veteran procrastinator, I hope this serves as an encouragement to someone out there as much as it has helped me.