The TL;DR of this entire of this post is to lament being stuck in one’s head and not taking action. Endless strategy development, being held back in fear of the enormity of what you want to accomplish, so much so that it paralyses you and you either don’t start or you get stuck in a mediocrity loop not doing anything worth doing, but doing it nonetheless.
So here we go…
1. Start with Why
You will get lost if you don’t figure this out. Why are you here on Earth? Why are you doing what you’re doing?
Forget your business or your career for a moment. If you ignore the question and its answer, you will always make decisions in every area of your life to fill the void of these unanswered questions. And if you don’t know where to start… try something, use Google, journal, whatever… but answer it.
Also, don’t half-arse this. You will know when you only go half way because you will only half-believe it and YOU will KNOW. Keep asking yourself the question, keep going until you can say to yourself “Yes, this is what I believe.”
“…you just know it. Through and through. Balls to bones.”
The Oracle, The Matrix
2. Define the What
Next, get specific about your goals, objectives, and the tangible outcomes you want to achieve. While the “why” provides the overarching purpose, the “what” makes it real.
Imagine you’re embarking on a road trip. Your “why” is the destination, the beautiful coastal town you’ve always dreamed of visiting. But without a clear “what,” you’ll find yourself aimlessly driving around without ever reaching that picturesque town.
So, ask yourself: What exactly do you want to accomplish in your business or personal life? Is it launching a groundbreaking product, building a thriving community, or perhaps achieving financial independence? The more precise your “what” is, the easier it becomes to plan and execute it.
3. Execute with Precision
Execution separates the dreamers from the achievers. If you don’t execute your grandest visions, they’ll always remain fantasies.
Execution is the engine of your ‘why’. You can get the car and map out your route; but if you don’t get in it and drive, you’re going nowhere. Many people stall at this stage, fearing the unknown, procrastinating, or waiting for the perfect moment. There’s no perfect time; there’s only now.
Start small, take the first step, and build momentum. Set achievable milestones, create a detailed plan, and be prepared to adapt along the way. If you get stuck at any point, just ask yourself… “Okay, what is it I need to DO next? What’s the next little step?” Then, EXECUTE, EXECUTE, EXECUTE!
“Without execution, ‘vision’ is just another word for hallucination.”
Mark V. Hurd
4. Iterate and Evolve
Success is not static. The world is dynamic, and circumstances change. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.
Think of your journey as a series of experiments. Learn from your successes and failures. Adjust your course based on the insights you gain along the way. See what’s working, what’s not and adapt accordingly. Flexibility and adaptability are essential.
Everyone has setbacks. It’s not about avoiding failure, learn from it and improve. Embrace change, embrace growth.
So…go, get started. Start defining your why’s and what’s and if you’ve done that… execute and iterate till you get where you need to go.
Good Luck and Godspeed.