HERE’S SOMETHING LEADERS IN every field agree on: There is a shortage of top-flight, expertly qualified persons to fill key positions. There is one success ingredient often missing in candidate: that is the ability to get things done, to get results.
“Nothing comes merely by thinking about it.”
Think of it. Everything we have in this world, from satellites to skyscrapers to baby food, is just an idea acted upon.
Nothing man-made or man-designed is, or can be, absolutely perfect. So to wait for the perfect set of conditions is to wait forever.
The test of a successful person is not an ability to eliminate all problems before they arise, but to meet and work out difficulties when they do arise.
Here are two things to do to help you avoid the costly mistake of waiting until conditions are perfect before you act.
- Expect future obstacles and difficulties. Every venture presents risks, problems, and uncertainties.
- Meet problems and obstacles as they arise. The test of a successful person is not the ability to eliminate all problems before he takes action, but rather the ability to find solutions to difficulties when he encounters them.
We can’t buy an insurance policy against all problems.
Ideas are important. Let’s make no mistake about that. We must have ideas to create and improve anything. Success shuns the man who lacks ideas.
Ideas in themselves are not enough. That idea for getting more business, for simplifying work procedures, is of value only when it is acted upon.
First, give your ideas value by acting on them. Regardless of how good the idea, unless you do something with it, you gain nothing.
Second, act on your ideas and gain mind tranquillity.
Got a good idea? Then do something about it.
Use action to cure fear and gain confidence.
It’s perfectly natural to experience fear in one of many forms. But the usual methods of combating it simply don’t work.
Build confidence. Destroy fear through action.
START YOUR MENTAL ENGINE—MECHANICALLY
Action must precede action. That’s a law of nature. Nothing starts itself, not even the dozens of mechanical gadgets we use daily.
A humorist once said the most difficult problem in life was getting out of a warm bed into a cold room.
The point is clear. People who get things done in this world don’t wait for the spirit to move them; they move the spirit.
Now is the magic word of success. Tomorrow, next week, later, sometime, someday often as not are synonyms for the failure word, never.
Live the advice of Benjamin Franklin: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
Initiative is a special kind of action. It’s doing something worthwhile without being told to do it. The person with initiative has a standing invitation to join the high income brackets in every business and profession.
Here are two special exercises for developing the initiative habit:
- Be a crusader. When you see something that you believe ought to be done, pick up the ball and run.
- Be a volunteer. The volunteer stands out. He receives special attention. Most important of all, he gives himself an opportunity to show he has special ability and ambition by volunteering.
GROW THE ACTION HABIT
Practice these key points:
- Be an activationist. Be someone who does things. Be a doer, not a don’t-er.
- Don’t wait until conditions are perfect. They never will be. Expect future obstacles and difficulties and solve them as they arise.
- Remember, ideas alone won’t bring success. Ideas have value only when you act upon them.
- Use action to cure fear and gain confidence. Do what you fear, and fear disappears. Just try it and see.
- Start your mental engine mechanically. Don’t wait for the spirit to move you. Take action, dig in, and you move the spirit.
- Think in terms of now. Tomorrow, next week, later, and similar words often are synonymous with the failure word, never. Be an “I’m starting right now” kind of person.
- Get down to business—pronto. Don’t waste time getting ready to act. Start acting instead.
- Seize the initiative. Be a crusader. Pick up the ball and run. Be a volunteer. Show that you have the ability and ambition to do.
- Get in gear and go!
Integral Development Forum 