Are you a person of action?

When you have an idea, need to start a project, or observe something that needs to be done, do you start immediately or wait until a deadline is looming?

My wife is getting ready to retire from her job as the Chief Compliance Officer at her company. Her replacement has been hired, and she is bringing him up to speed regarding the department's day-to-day operations. 

My wife rarely wastes time. She plans, organizes, and acts. She is an action-orientated leader. Her replacement recently commented, "We seem to have different working styles. I'm more of a wait until the last minute before starting the project. You're more of a get it done now type of person."

While there is something to be said for analyzing, planning, and understanding what needs to be accomplished before jumping into something without knowing what you're doing, for many of the routine tasks that continually need to be accomplished, procrastinating just wastes time.  

Too many people wait until everything is neat and orderly before starting. But delaying your start, especially in business, puts you in a situation where someone else may act on your idea, and you lose the advantage.

A better way to look at something new is to jump in with both feet and figure it out as you move forward. As the old saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words."  Small accomplishments matter. They generate momentum and power that can lead to bigger things.

To quote another phrase, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step." The completion or success of a project doesn't just materialize.  It's accomplished by combining many smaller jobs together. How do you eat the elephant? One bite at a time. By continually acting on the smaller tasks that need to be done, you move one step closer to your goal.   

Action generates energy. And energy fuels momentum. Being overworked can lead to anxiety. Studies have shown that stress occurs because we lack control. Taking action, even a small step forward, can lead to regaining that control and, thus, reclaiming our drive.  

As a high school basketball coach, I'd remind my players that good shooters have short memories. Overanalyzing a shot in the middle of a game wastes effort and time. The player needed to stop thinking and take action the next time a good shot was available.

On this solemn day, when we stop to remember the men and women of our armed forces who paid for our freedom with their lives, let's celebrate the actions they took. Let's honor their memory by acting in a way that would make them proud and lead us to our purposeful mission.   

Please leave me a comment about your views on the importance of taking action in our lives. Your opinions and perspectives are valuable, and I'd appreciate hearing from you.