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Doing, Not Dreaming

Doing, Not Dreaming

If you are still trying to do something you begin three months ago, that’s not good. If it were six months ago, that’s terrible. And if it were longer than that, you’re just kidding yourself about really attempting to do it.

I’ve observed why people don’t move forward and wind up with the same thing on the “to do” list, or goals, or promises without movement. The reasons are:

• It’s a dream, and the work involved is not desirable or realistic.

• Fear of trying and failing.

• Fear of rejection by those who must be approached.

• Refusal to dedicate time that is now used on sustaining the status quo.

• Refusal to seek or heed help.

• The belief that if you keep talking about it then it will somehow happen.

If you want to create a new offering, move into a new market, reduce your indebtedness, attract larger clients, whatever:

  1. Identify what constitutes success.
  2. Ask yourself and others who have done it what’s required in addition to or in place of what you’re doing now.
  3. Implement on a tight time frame unafraid of failure and learning from mistakes.
  4. Dedicate time daily or weekly to implement.
  5. If it works, exploit it. If it fails, learn from it and forget it.

Generally, if you can’t make serious inroads in 60 days and create the new, sustainable environment in 90 days, you’re probably not going to do it, period.

Stop dreaming and start doing.

© Alan Weiss 2017

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 5

  • Nicholas Okumu

    July 6, 2017

    Good practical advice Alan.

  • Craig Ellis

    July 6, 2017

    Reminds me of your “Reasonable Progress” memo from several years back which I have pasted in a couple of places in my home. You probably still have it, but I’ll email my copy to you just in case. I’ve often wondered recently, if you were to re-write it, what would it read like today after years of reflection and experience – if any difference?

  • Craig Ellis

    July 6, 2017

    Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes on this topic:

    “You are the way you are because that’s the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now.” Fred Smith, CEO FedEx

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