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?

This Blog Is Not Perfect!

I recently posted a video called “The Three P’s of Perfectionism,” and it resonated with so many of you. High achievers often struggle with perfectionism, sometimes even viewing it as a strength. But in reality, perfectionism can keep you stuck, stressed, and second-guessing yourself. This is especially true if you’re a solopreneur or small business owner, where decision-making is constant.

So, how do you know if perfectionism is a problem for you? Let’s break it down:

The Three P’s of Perfectionism

P – Paralysis – You overthink and hesitate because you fear judgment. Maybe you receive an important email but take days to respond because you’re obsessing over the perfect wording.

P – Preparation – You over-prepare! You make a list… to make another list… to make another list. You convince yourself you need just one more thing before taking action.

P – Procrastination – You push things down the road, waiting for the perfect moment that never comes. You take action only at the last possible second—if at all.

One comment on my video perfectly captured perfectionism’s trap: "I really didn’t want to watch this because I’ve already fixed my perfectionism… but I watched anyway, just in case." That’s perfectionism in action—even the act of overcoming it has to be perfect.

How Perfectionism Creeps Into Business

Many solopreneurs I coach struggle with perfectionism in their marketing. Almost all of them say they wish they were doing more on social media, but fear of judgment or not getting it just right holds them back.

Think about it—how many potential clients are you missing? How much revenue are you leaving on the table? What if, instead of chasing perfection, you focused on progress?

The Core Emotional Needs Behind Perfectionism

Perfectionism is often tied to two core emotional needs:

1️⃣ “Do I have purpose?” – You get caught up in finding the perfect path. And when you can’t find it, you stay stuck.

2️⃣ “Am I good enough?” – You seek validation through perfection. Deep down, you feel insecure and believe if you do everything perfectly, you’ll finally be enough.

If you’re curious about your core emotional need, I offer a free 60-second assessment you can take. Core Emotional Need Survey

5 Ways to Overcome Perfectionism

✅ Build Action Muscles – Take imperfect action. When I started posting content, I was nervous. Now, I’m a posting machine. It all started with that scary first step. “Practice makes better.”

✅ Be Present – Perfectionism lives in the past (where you developed limiting beliefs) and the future (where you fear failing). The present is all that matters.

✅ Fact-Check Yourself – Are you making up worst-case scenarios? Ask yourself: Is this fear real, or just a story I’m telling myself?

✅ Embrace Mistakes – No one just jumps on a bike and rides. Falling is part of the process.

✅ Celebrate Wins – If you only celebrate big successes, you’ll never feel good enough. Instead, acknowledge small wins along the way. Did you finally buy the podcast mic without researching it for months? That’s a win!

I’ll leave you with the words of the incredible Brené Brown:
“Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.”

So, what’s one imperfect action you can take today? Drop a comment or reply—I’d love to hear from you!