Escape Velocity #4

Have you ever noticed that intelligent people will sit around and talk for hours (even days, months, or years) about all the great ideas they have that will change their lives (or others') that they never do anything about. I am surrounded by these folks sometimes, although I try not to be. Basically, I have to stop them and ask, "What are the action steps that it will take you to make your idea a reality?" Then I ask them, "Is there something you can do right now, or tomorrow, or sometime soon that will cause you to stop talking about possibilities and instead start talking about realities?" And then I might ask, "Do you ever get tired of just talking?" Because I know in my circle of friends, we get very tired of hearing people just talk about what they're going to do. So, to help all my friends that need a little encouragement, or a road map, on how to get things done, here's how to stop talking about ideas and make them realities:

1) See the vision, end result, or goal.

2) Determine all the pieces, steps, or subgoals that need to be in place in order for the vision to become reality.

3) Put them in chronological order, or decide which ones come before the other until the end result is achieved. Determine their sequence.

4) Pick the first piece or subgoal.

5) Repeat steps 1 through 3 with the first subgoal.

6) DO the first subgoal of the first subgoal.

7) Repeat with second subgoal.

8) Repeat, Do, Repeat, Do.

Think of the task of chopping down a tree. It takes many swings or chops to cut it down. Cutting down the tree is the goal. Each chop is a subgoal. Acquiring the axe is the first subgoal of the first subgoal. Then you need to sharpen the axe. Then you need to go to the tree. Then you need to heft the axe (you may need to develop this strength first). Then you need to swing the axe (you may need to learn this skill first). Then you need to pull the axe out. Then you need to repeat all the steps. Over and over and over. Eventually, the tree that you kept talking about chopping down is on the ground. You have made your vision a reality. Good job.

You can apply this logic to all goals and visions. Go get your axe!

Onward & Upward,

JD