A – Actions

The 4th Step to Accomplishing Your Goals

GOALS - REASONS - EXPECTATIONS - ACTIONS - TRACKING

There is a big difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Most people know exactly what they need to do to hit their goals: exercise, eat healthy, save money, stop wasting time, etc. But, many choose to stay on the ground level, never taking the necessary steps up the ladder to reach their goals.

A lot of people confuse movement with action. Running on a treadmill is fine for exercising, but if you’re trying to go somewhere, you’ll need to get on the right track! Many people convince themselves that they are moving forward, when they are merely moving around the ladder instead of climbing to the top of it.

There is an old adage that knowledge is power. If you’re going to achieve greatness, it’s time to think differently again. Knowledge is not power, only applied knowledge is power. Having the information in a book is only the start. You must take action! Taking action is a lot like rowing a boat. Think of being on the shore of a lake and your goals are on the other side. Pretty simple; just get in your boat, row, and you’ll make it to your goals. If it’s that easy, why do so many fail to get to the other side?

When most people start taking action to pursue their goals, they begin with the best of intentions. They usually come out of the gates full steam ahead; rowing with an incredible amount of passion and excitement. But, they soon found that they’re simply going in circles. When you take action, it’s important to row with both oars so you can go in a straight line and get to your goals faster, without wasting energy. When it comes to achieving greatness, you need to make sure you understand your oars:

Knowing – Having the right knowledge necessary to accomplish your goals.
Doing – Applying that knowledge with the right actions to accomplish your goals.

If all you do is continue to gather knowledge, but never apply it, you will just spin in one direction. If all you do is move around, but don’t have the necessary information to assist you, you will spin in the opposite direction. When you are pursuing goals, but never see results, you can use a lot of energy and end up getting tired, frustrated, and confused; only to end up exactly where you started.

Think GREAT!
© 2010 Erik Therwanger