Ready! Set! Action!
Whoever I coach, I am wholeheartedly rooting for. I’ve been incredibly fortunate that my clients have achieved great results, and as a coach, I get to share in that pride and gratitude. Some see results almost immediately, while others take a little longer. Over time, I’ve started to notice patterns. What makes one person achieve success faster than another? It all comes down to one word: action.
Once we get their mindset right and clear out old stories holding them back, we create a plan for what they want to achieve. The clients who commit fully and take consistent action are the ones who see the biggest breakthroughs. When success isn’t coming as fast as we would like, it almost always traces back to not taking enough action.
When making a shift, it can seem scary and make us reluctant to act. What if it doesn’t work? What if this is a big waste of time? What if I should be taking different action? These are all natural questions, but you don’t get the answer to any of these questions unless you take action. Action will give you results to work with. They aren’t always the results you wanted, but they lead you to answers and eventually to the result you are seeking.
If success really comes down to taking action, why don’t more people just do it? Because before action happens, people have to break through the things that stop them. That’s where coaching comes in.
Some of the most common action blockers I see:
Perfectionism – You don’t start because you’re afraid of being judged. You want everything to be perfect before you take action, but by the time you’ve spent all that energy preparing, you’re exhausted.
Overwhelm – You’re looking too far ahead instead of focusing on the first step. Instead of just recording a podcast on your computer, you start worrying about the name, the guests, the editing—until it feels impossible, and you give up.
Lack of clarity – You’re trying to take action without first defining what you actually want. Success requires clarity: What do you want? When do you want it? Who do you want it with? Once you know that, the next step becomes obvious.
Fear Of Not Being Good Enough – You worry that if you take action and still don’t succeed, it will prove you weren’t good enough. But nobody is great right out of the gate. You grow by starting and learning along the way.
Lack of time – Just the thought of adding one more thing to your plate feels exhausting. The way through this isn’t waiting for free time to appear—it’s making time. Restructure your schedule. Start your day earlier. Protect your time instead of giving it away to things that don’t serve you.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you start. Moving forward despite doubt and fear will teach you more than waiting ever will. Action is the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. The only question is: Are you willing to take the first step?
