When You Do Nothing, Nothing Happens

People have ambitious goals and magnificent dreams. But without action, those desires will never come to fruition. Although this might seem obvious, many people hope that things will magically occur on their own. But we know that’s just a fantasy. Rather than taking responsibility to make things happen, they use every excuse in the book to avoid action and ultimately fall short of their goals. As Henry Ford said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” When you do nothing, nothing happens.

When was the last time you were faced with a wonderful opportunity or had a brilliant idea but failed to follow through? Sometimes, staring potential in the face feels like an accomplishment, but the reality is, that’s just the start. And yet, despite knowing the odds were against you, you held onto hope that success would find its way to you. You know better than that! As the saying goes, “Don’t talk, just act. Don’t say, just show. Don’t promise, just prove.”

Do These Excuses Sound Familiar?

Why don’t people follow through? Here are common excuses that people use every day:

“I’ll do it — tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure what to do, so I won’t do anything.”
“I need to do some more planning.”
“I’m afraid of making a mistake, so I’ll hold off.”
“I know I should be doing it, but….”
“I’m afraid of getting rejected.”

You can be the smartest and most capable person in the world, but without following through on your intentions and your commitments you’ll never achieve anything. As the psychologist Carl Jung said, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”

Are You a Doer?

Taking decisive action is the key to bridging the gap between potential and actual achievement. Here are 10 essential guidelines to consider:

Productivity. Those who begin things, but never complete them, accomplish nothing.

Planning. Planning is a tool, not an end goal. Without implementation, plans are worthless.

Decisions. You’ll never have all the information you need to make a perfect decision. Make the best choice you can with the information available.

Adversity. Don’t delay difficult tasks; they won’t be easier tomorrow.

Opportunities. Pursuing an opportunity can result in either success or failure, but not trying ensures that you’ll miss the chance altogether.

Problem solving. Ignoring problems won’t make them disappear.

Personal standards. Hold yourself to a high standard, but not an impossible one. Strive for excellence, not perfection. As technology executive Sheryl Sandberg said, “Done is better than perfect.”

Challenges. Problems don’t improve with time. If you fail to address tooth decay, it will come back to bite you.

Feedback. Tell it as it is. Honest and constructive feedback, even when difficult, fosters personal growth.

Discipline. Staying silent or avoiding confrontation of bad behavior is equivalent to condoning it.

You Have What It Takes!

You can have the best intentions in the world but thinking about doing something is not the same as doing it. Similarly, it’s not just what you know, but what you do with that knowledge. True achievement requires not only intelligence and ability, but also the discipline to see your plans through to fruition. More often than not, the only barrier to great achievement is yourself. A great idea, valuable advice, or a wonderful opportunity is meaningless unless you act on it. As Pablo Picasso said, “Action is the foundational key to all success.” Without action, nothing happens.

Check out Frank’s new book, BECOME: Unleash the Power of Moral Character and Be Proud of the Life You Choose