Ready… Aim… Fire! For most of us, it’s Ready… Aim… Aim… Aim… Aim…
If you’re like me, your days start out with great intention, lofty goals, and an idea of all things you’re going to get done. You may even write down all the things you plan on accomplishing that day. But… at the end of the day, you get stuck with another Post-it note with a few things crossed off, and a bunch of stuff that is now the start of tomorrow’s list.
And what about bigger plans. That book you’re going to write, that certification you’re going to get, or those pounds you’re going to lose? We talk a good game, but where’s the finished product? Why is it that we have such grandiose plans, but nothing ever seems to get done?
One of the biggest problems I see is that we spend too much time preparing? An artist may spend days, weeks, or months looking for the perfect scene to paint. An author waits to get started because he can’t think of a great title. Or you will get going on shedding those pounds of body fat, but you’re searching for just the right workout program, the optimal diet, or the best gym. We spend far too much time analyzing, planning, preparing, and organizing, and it keeps us from actually taking the action needed to get the results we want.
The ocean of information we have at our finger tips appears to be a good thing, but it bogs us down. We could call it paralysis by preparation. The internet is a blessing with all it has to offer us as a phenomenal resource, but it can act as a curse. We set a goal, begin to research the best way to achieve that goal, and get sucked into the abyss of information. We read articles, click on targeted ads, read reviews, and engage with Reddit. Hours later, we are not only no closer to taking the necessary action needed to actually accomplish something, but our heads are left spinning, we are more confused, and we end up on a never-ending rabbit trail. We are paralyzed.
Let’s say you’re getting leg cramps at night. A friend tells you to take magnesium. Easy enough. You jump on Amazon to purchase some. Uh oh! You see magnesium citrate. Then you see magnesium glycinate. And magnesium L-threonate, taurate, lactate, aspartate, gluconate, and stearate. After reading dozens and dozens of reviews, you’re more confused than before starting. Now you jump into Google to find out what’s the best. One doctor recommends one type of magnesium, while another doctor ensures that another kind is best. So, venture onto Reddit and read how one form of magnesium cured all ailments for one person, while causing a rash in another. One swears they’ll never take magnesium again because it caused explosive diarrhea, yet another says they couldn’t walk, but because of this one type of magnesium, now they can. You’re left with more questions than answers, unsure of how to proceed, lying in bed thinking about it, all with legs that are still cramping.
At some point, we have to accept that we have enough information. The only way we can ever move forward is by taking that first step. We’ve heard that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We could add and endless preparation. All planning and no action get us nowhere.
Have you ever seen that t-shirt with a cartoon guy in a boat, kicked back in a seat, a fishing pole in one hand, a beer in the other? The caption says… A bad day of fishing is better than the best day at the office. Well, a not-so-perfect piece of art that is done is better than a blank canvas that you keep talking about starting. A short, less-than-perfect workout is better than sitting on the couch. Signing up for that course, purchasing that plane ticket, or knocking down that wall all get you moving in the right direction, get you started on the journey, and get you closer to that goal that you have been fantasizing about, talking about, and planning for.
One thing that will ensure failure is not taking action. It was Wayne Gretzky that said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Do the analysis, do the planning, and do the thinking, but take the next step. Stop talking and start doing. Don’t remain paralyzed by preparation. You’ve been aiming long enough. It’s time to fire!
