One of my mentors, Scott Fay, challenged me earlier this week to expand my thinking by focusing on one specific thing I learned throughout the week and take action upon it.  This was a “double-dog-dare” so backing down was not really an option.

So here is the plan … Friday’s post will be dedicated to “What I Learned This Week” (WILTW).  I hope you will join in with me on this.  Friday’s I will deliver my take-a-way for the week and give a call to action as we head into the next.

As I look back on this week, there were several times when I was involved in some type of interaction – training, webinar, coaching, conference call and so on – that brought to light the “greatest gap.”  The greatest gap is the gap between what we know and what we do.

It Takes Results To Get Results

Earlier today I was on a call with Paul Martinelli, President of the John Maxwell Team, and he made the comment “Doing Nothing Is Not A Result” and proceeded to explain, in detail, how we can’t expect any kind of result without taking action.

I made similar comments to two groups of John Maxwell Team members that I am leading through a 90 Day Success Program.  We will finish this 90 Day journey next week and I told them all that after we attend one of the bi-annual Maxwell Certification events next month, I want to reconnect and discuss their “action plan” in moving forward.  You know … that accountability thing!

Are You Still Getting Ready To Get Ready!

All too often, we get hung up on the “getting ready” piece of accomplishing goals and when you think about it – getting ready has everything to do with what we know and nothing to do with actually doing it.  Don’t get me wrong here, preparation is a huge part of success, but you could be the most prepared person on the planet and if you don’t execute your plan, it’s all for not.

Here is where I think a lot of people get stuck in this.  They set a date to accomplish something knowing that they need to prepare.  The problem is that we assume that just because preparation comes before execution, the chronological order of things will take care of itself.  The net result is that we hover in the “getting ready” phase and the deadline slips by because we are still getting ready.

Quit Doing Something That Get’s You Nothing!

So what did I learn this week?  I learned that somewhere between knowing and doing there is an point where preparation stops and execution starts.  Yes, I realize that most things in life continue to evolve and that we will always need to be preparing for what’s next, but that CAN’T be a reason to live in get ready world.  I know that doing something that get’s you nothing is not the result you are looking for.

So here is what you need to do.  There is something you are working on right now that has you getting ready and you probably have some idea of when you need to actually do it.  Break up this omelette of activity into it’s original ingredients and put a date on each step.  Write this down ==> On (fill in the date), no matter what state of readiness I am in, I am going to start.  And them make any necessary course corrections needed along the way.

If nothing is what you are getting from your something, it’s time to make a change. (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

C’mon people – It’s time to close the gap and start getting results!

***********************************************************************

Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation

Don’t miss a single post from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page. 

Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page

Barry Smith  1/31/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014