The MONTHLY Motivator - May 2005

Getting it done

It is a dilemma that everyone faces at one time or another, and one that many people find almost impossible to get around -- knowing what must be done and yet not being able to get yourself to do it. Just as confounding is knowing that something should not be done and yet being unable to avoid it.

There really are no easy answers, no “magic wand” that will cause you to do the right and appropriate thing in all situations. Yet there are certain strategies that can greatly assist you in getting yourself to take necessary actions and avoid undesirable ones.

These strategies will enable you to bridge the critical gap between thinking positively and acting positively, to make the important connection between intentions and results.

Every person of accomplishment must not only think, but also do. Good intentions and high expectations are great, yet they’re only a starting point. As soon as they’re formulated, it is time for real, substantial action to begin. Action is what separates dreamers from achievers.

The bottom line is this. If you are going to accomplish anything, you must take action. No one can do it for you. Your success depends on your ability to translate your desires and ideas into reality through the use of effective action. There is simply no way around that.

The good news is that making things happen is a skill that can be learned and perfected. If you’ve found yourself in the past to be lacking in discipline and unable to take action, be assured that it does not have to be a permanent condition.

If you find yourself thinking “Yeah, that’s easy for YOU to say” whenever you’re advised to “just do it” or to “just say no” you’re absolutely right. It is very easy for someone to offer such advice, and actually heeding such advice can require tremendous effort. Yet it can certainly be done, and it is done on a daily basis by successful, effective people all over the world. No matter what your level of physical, mental or emotional ability, there’s nothing that inherently prevents you from taking effective, goal-oriented action. Success in any endeavor is available to you when you learn how to achieve it and then put your knowledge into practice.

Different people have developed different strategies for getting things accomplished, for turning what needs to be done into what has been done. So let’s take a look at some of those strategies. As you read about each one, consider how you could apply it to your own situation.

---

To continue reading this member-only content, please log in if you are a current subscriber/member, or if you’re not already a member, you can join today for an annual price of just $15 and get immediate access to the full text of this article and many others, plus additional member-only content such as downloadable audio programs and e-books. If you’re not ready to join right now, we invite you to look through our extensive archive of more than 6,000 shorter daily messages, which are fully available for everyone to read.

--Ralph Marston

More Monthly Motivators...