Here is the full article from the Business Short shared earlier in the month...

Just Do It!

The more time progresses, the more I realize that Nike has it right: "Just Do It!"

Too often in today's society, regardless of our role, it becomes apparent that procrastination has taken an unfortunate foundational place in our lives. Even with technology at our fingertips, too many of us fall short in engaging those "great ideas" in a timely manner.

Delay, even after enhanced affirmation of needed action, seems to be the favored choice.

What causes our hesitancy to act?

• Could it be fear due to a limiting belief or past experience?
• Could it be a lack of self-confidence?
• Or regretfully, simply "laziness”?

Whatever the issue, it can cause us to sit idly by.

Unless we are willing to step forward on our ideas, plans or dreams, we will never know what can be. Action makes the difference. Even the Bible states in Ecclesiastes 11:4: "If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything."

Thus, hoping won't make something happen, do something now!

So how do we in essence build the "courage" to engage?

What will it demand of our personal demeanor for us to put plans into action? Experience has provided the following five (5) steps that should assist even the most senior executive with insight on how to better, "just do it!"

First, believe in you and your abilities. This is "the" critical beginning that must be in place for any chance of action to be confirmed.Too often inner fears, limiting beliefs or assumptions cause us to lessen our internal reality. We hold ourselves back from demonstrating our strengths and talents. In essence we are crippled by allowing our mind to paint false pictures. One must be brave and have confidence in oneself in the same manner that a tightrope walker does, as he pushes a wheelbarrow over a deep gorge along his tightrope line with his son or daughter sitting in it.

As cofounder of Amway, Richard M. De Vos said, "The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible." Taking the first step to believe in ourselves and our abilities will enable us to insure that action becomes a daily part of our life's work.

Second, discipline yourself with a plan. We do what makes us feel good or provides us with some level of satisfaction. Just as we had to direct ourselves to learn how to drive a car or to tie our shoes, enabling us to travel and to be able to walk on varied surfaces, discipline comes to play. Discipline helps us to get better. Without it, we fall short.

A plan provides the reason to do what we do. It in essence keeps us going in the right direction. In the circumstance involving our taking action, it is that unique force that allows the eye to see and the mind to control what we must focus upon not only in the moment but in the future as well.

Build the plan and visualize its payoff in your mind. When you see the end result in your minds-eye, the plan becomes a part of you. Combined with discipline, it then enables us to accomplish what we must obtain in order that we reach our goal or satisfy our heart's desire. 

Having a pathway to follow by virtue of some thought, visualization and / or a simple plan with even a minor level of discipline can spark our internal action meter to spring into operation and motivate us to move forward. It is that "push" that causes us to get off the couch, put on our walking shoes and hit the streets or the treadmill and begin to lose those extra 5 pounds.

By disciplining ourselves with a plan of action we are enhancing the confidence we have in our decision to act. As French poet and novelist Victor Hugo said, "He who every morning plans the truncations of the day, and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life."

Third, find a commitment partner. In order to effectively achieve what you desire, it often demands extra attention. Even though one has strong personal belief and builds a sound plan, it can be invaluable to share the goals with another who when asked will hold you to your commitment. Having that individual who will not bend under pressure but will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear, will further your potential to complete your task.

A commitment partner will not do the work for you but will see to it that you do the work and take the action to move your promise to reality. Choose an individual who can understand your needs and empathize with your challenges but will direct attention to the task at hand. Though the interaction may become tense at times, the outcome will insure that you remain steady in your original decision. 

Fourth, prepare yourself to confront challenges. As the Law of TINSTAAFL proclaims:

"There is no such thing as a free lunch." Most efforts of engagement are often haunted by adversity. One begins to see those limiting beliefs come forth denoting that the job is too tough or that one is underserving. Further there is the arena of fear: fear of falling short but also fear of succeeding. And then there are the calls from the crowd or in simple terms, the critic who either laughs at your attempt or professes the doom of trying.

One's initiative to "dig in one's heels" and challenge personal psychological shortfalls and false perceptions can enhance the ability to move forward. With preparation – both mental and physical – to overcome the negatives that arise (perhaps a role play?) can make the decisions more fluid and enable forward progress.

Stay motivated. Seek solutions when challenges arise, don't sit there and praise the challenge's reality. Remain excuse-less. As noted nursing great Florence Nightingale once said, "I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse." If you prepare, and perform, then challenges should never be an obstacle.

Finally, make it happen! Remember, nothing is accomplished on the sidelines! As was once said, "…action-oriented people realize that they who want milk should not sit in the middle of a field and wait for the cow to back up to them." Thus you must know and then you must do!

There is a longtime story that addresses action perhaps more vividly than other illustrations. It says: "There once were four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. An important job had to be done, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it and that Somebody would do it. But Nobody realized that Everybody thought Somebody would do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. In reality, things needed to happen but fell short.

"Just Do It" is more than a slogan. It is the life-blood for the next great idea or the end of a complex situation.

You never win the lottery unless you buy a ticket.

You never hit a home run unless you step up to the plate.

You catch no fish unless you put hook and line in the water.

You never achieve your dreams or goals unless you take the action to begin.

As former Chrysler CEO and famed businessman Lee Iacocca once proclaimed, "Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen."

Use the five (5) steps to taking action to get you off and running.

1. Believe in yourself!
2. Discipline yourself with a plan and visualize its completion!
3. Find a commitment partner!
4. Prepare yourself to confront challenges; and,
5. Make it happen!

As Master Yoda of "Star Wars" fame conveyed, "…there is no try, there is either do or not do."

Make it happen, "Just Do It!"