You've Gotta Take Action

This is the 12th post in my series of 16 lessons learned during sixteen years in business. You can scroll down to read the earlier posts, or go here to read the introductory post to this series.

. . .

Ideas are wonderful things. I've taught and written about creativity. (And an earlier post in this series talks about innovation and hints at today's message.)

I am seldom at a loss of ideas - in fact, I have journals full of them and we have flipchart pages capturing them here at Remarkable House.

I love ideas.

And as fun, exciting and full of possibilities as they are, they should never be our end goal.

Because ideas without action are worthless.

As leaders we sometimes focus on coming up with the blockbuster idea, when in fact what we need to do is implement the ideas we already have. And this point isn't just for organizations and big creative problem solving situations either.

If we want to make progress on any goal, any endeavor, anything, action is required.

One of the lessons I continue to learn is that while ideas are great, poorer ideas implemented are better than great ideas on a piece of paper (or worse yet, in your head).

Action get us started, action moves us forward, action creates momentum and action is contagious.

While we must plan and create ideas, we will do ourselves a favor when we stop thinking and start doing.

Need to change a light bulb, change a work process or change careers?

Get started. Start doing. Take action.

When you are feeling lethargic, the best medicine is action.

When you are feeling indecisive, the best approach is action (deciding is an action!)

When you want to make a difference, large or small in your world, take action.

This may be the 12th lesson in this series, but it is one of the most important ones I have learned and continue to relearn everyday.

What action do you need to take today? don't delay - do it now!

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