“Take action…”
“Just do it…”
These are a couple of simple phrases that motivate and take you closer to your goals and dreams.
Or are they?
I believe on their own they are USELESS.
You see, it’s not just about taking action.
It’s about taking the right action.
So many of us are taking action and getting no where…and that may include YOU!
IMPORTANT: Re-read that last statement again and DON’T take it personally! I know it is a generic statement but it’s true for many of us.
You see, most of us are hard working and we feel we are taking action but we are taking the WRONG action.
And the wrong action can take us away from our goals and dreams.
Let me paint a simple scenario that most of us have experienced…
You purchase an information product that promises success. That success could be more income, losing weight, having beautiful hair…
The type of information product doesn’t matter…these are just examples.
Some people (the minority) take certain action and do make more income, do lose a few pounds or having even more beautiful hair but the majority don’t.
The majority don’t because they don’t take the right action.
They take the information product they have purchased and read or view it or listen to it. Some class that as taking action and well, I suppose it is.
Some will think, “I’ve tried it all before and it doesn’t work”. Others will think, “I’m not doing that” and others, “That’s too much hard work”.
Then in their email inbox will be an ad for the latest ‘fad’. The latest super-doper product that will ‘blow your mind’.
THIS ONE REALLY WORKS!
Some buy this product as well and they start the same old action again…
…the same action that gets them no where.
Suddenly they feel overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed with the amount of offers for quick improvements and they don’t know which way to turn or where to start.
But they are hard working…they take action and they wonder why they are getting no where fast.
Taking The Right Action
Create a to-do list from the information product you have purchased (or received for free), as you study it.
And from that to-do list add the specific action to your daily, weekly and monthly routine.
For instance, one idea suggested to lose weight in the information product could be to walk 5,000 steps each day. A pedometer is recommended.
Correct action 1: Get a pedometer and weigh yourself.
Correct action 2: As you get up in the morning, wear it. Start monitoring the number of steps you take
Correct action 3: You find you are completing 3,000 steps in your normal daily routine. So, each day you decide to walk around the block to make the number of steps you complete, 5000.
Correct action 4: Continue with correct action number 3 for 2 weeks
And so on.
It sounds simple doesn’t it?
And that’s because it is.
A lot of people will think that won’t work because it is too simple.
WRONG!
Simple is best. Try it.
I know this post may upset a few of you who think you are taking action…tell me what you think.
Please share your views in the comments below.
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Andrew, this is great advice. Like most people, I have a lot of how-to books on my shelves and in my computer. We all have more advice than we can act on, and it can be overwhelming.
I like your approach of create a simple plan and then implement it.
On a related subject, there are also times we need to engage in “creative destruction,” meaning realizing that certain plans or projects are not giving us the expected result and we need to kill them now so we can use our time and resources in more productive ways.
John,
I am guilty of staying with some of my blogs which don;t give much of a return.
But for some reason I try and keep them going thinking one day…
Perhaps now is the time to ‘let go’!
Andrew
Too true. It’s like a pit of quicksand. Too much of the wrong action will only make you sink faster.
Jason,
…and so many keep struggling to pull themselves out.
Andrew
I also really like Tony Robbins take on “taking action.” He says that taking action without that feeling of certainty or strong belief that you can actually spiral down into a terrible place of doubt.
You can take all the action in the world but you can have at least two problems:
1. You are heading the wrong direction. Wrong actions. (Like you said.)
2. You don’t believe in your actions. You don’t have certainty in what you are doing. There is no power behind what you are doing.
Caleb.
That is a great point.
I believe they go together.
You may have great certainty but still take the wrong action and like you say…you must have certainly in your actions.
Get’s a little confusing but I think you know what I mean!
Andrew
wow, i stumbled across this blog while doing a google search. as someone who has been active and not productive i needed to see several of the blogs you have posted. this one touched me. 2 many times we don’t know that cutting our losses is actually a step to progression. thanks again.
Arenee
Thanks – I’m glad the post may you comment.
See you again…soon?
Andrew
A couple of weeks ago I was floored by daft things that happened, and then found I couldn’t take action at all. I did all the things I thought to try and get me back in the groove, but it was the wrong kind of action for that time.
It is so simple, yet often we’re blind to it.
Ryah
Sometimes we are so blind…it needs someone else to tell us.
Perhaps a coach?
Andrew
I so agree with your staements Andrew. It is all about taking the right action. I know in the past I have had good intentions, taken some action then stopped. Now I am taking the right action and moving my blog and my business forward. Lots of blips along the way but with determination and perseverance starting to see the rewards. Being part of a great blogging community and just opening my etsy store to my readers to showcase sourced products. Dreams do come tree 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Patricia
And to think only a few months ago you were ‘struggling’ with what to do.
Andrew
P.S. Hope you don’t mind me saying that…it’s meant to be a huge compliment to you.
I really agree with your point here Andrew. Doing it the wrong way will really push you behind. It’s important to know the proper way and taking action of it.
Yep, just taking blind action is kinda dumb. I find I need to take some time to plan out things first.
Very interesting topic to talk about , i agree with the fact we need to take right actions , i believe in wisdom and intelligence in every single step and decision we take and that matter cause being successful need “some” serious work :=
Rahul,
The thing to also note is that mistakes are allowed.
Mistakes are good…as long as you change your approach and actions.
Andrew
Yes it is. Mistakes will teach us how to do it more accurately.One thing I keep in mind is to follow those who have been there already and not those who only preach.
Jacob,
You will find many ‘preachers’ on-line!!!
Andrew
Simple is definitely best but alas, it seems like lots of folks just want the silver bullet of a bazillion returns with *no* action.
Checks and balances and being to see where you are at all times – it’s a wise move. Takes lots of time, mind you, but it can be the difference between awesome success and dismal failure.
Barbara
The big problem, on-line is a lot of people still believe the hype of “bazillion returns with *no* action”.
Andrew
Sure I agree with you Andrew, after slowing down my blogging activities now I’m active again and back to blog as usual, promote, etc. I know when I started to leave my blogging behind that is a mistake, big mistake may be 🙁
Now I have so many plan and action plan too, thanks Andrew for the article. Success to you bro.
Latief,
Why did you decide to slow down?
Andrew
A friend asked me to help him to built his business blog and he hire me as webmaster. 9 to 5 job Andrew, please don’t laughing at me bro 🙂
But now I’m back to blogging world!
Latief,
There is no problem with that.
Why couldn’t you do both?
Andrew
I see people taking action on the wrong things all the time. It’s amazing to see how busy people are, but seem really challenged to reach their bigger goals. You’re right, it’s all about taking action on the right things that get you closer to where you need to be.
Rodney
I believe a lot of people think they are going in the right direction because they are busy and working hard.
But that isn’t necessarily right.
Andrew
Well said, Andrew. I’ve been guilty of taking the wrong actions before, mainly because I didn’t know any better at the time. This is where it helps to learn from the right people so that any actions you take from there forward are the right ones and you don’t end up wasting your time and taking you further from your goals.
Alan,
I’m sure we all have taken the wrong actions as some point.
The trick or skill is to know when we are, and decide to take a different approach / action.
Andrew
ah, i use “Take action…” “Just do it…” Phrase almost everyday.
They are really amazing for motivation..
Article is great, thanks for this amazing article
Right action and in time actions are always welcomed every where and these action are consider as source of success.