A year from now, you’ll wish you had started today.
We’ve all heard this wisdom, yet we still find ourselves stuck in the “I’ll start on Monday” loop. The truth? Things never fully settle down. The gap between wanting something and doing it isn’t about ability; it’s about activation.
Can you think of something you’ve been putting off? Perhaps expanding your professional network, developing a skill, or having that difficult conversation? Why not get started right away? Here are a few ideas to set you on a path…
- Make the task ridiculously small. Want to build out your relationship base? Don’t commit to “networking more.” Send one message to one person today. Want to become a more confident public speaker? Don’t join Toastmasters, yet. Instead, record yourself speaking for two minutes on your phone. The goal isn’t to solve everything today. It’s to break the seal of inaction.
- Schedule it before you’re ready. You’ll never feel completely ready. Book the coffee meeting before you’ve perfected your pitch. Sign up for that speaking opportunity before you’ve written your talk. Commitment creates momentum.
- Create artificial constraints. “I will spend 30 minutes on this, no more, no less” beats “I’ll work on this until it’s perfect.” Time constraints force action and prevent the perfectionism that keeps us from starting.
For me, I find that I am more likely to take action when I have an accountability partner at my side. Sound appealing? Tell someone who will actually follow up (not someone who’ll nod sympathetically when you explain why you didn’t do it!). A trusted colleague working toward their own goal. A mentor. A coach. Even a friend, as long as you’re both clear this isn’t cheerleading, it’s accountability. You can start with a simple weekly 15-minute check-in or even scheduling one coffee date at some agreed-upon point in the future to discuss: What did you commit to? What happened? What’s next week’s commitment? The magic isn’t in them having answers, it’s in knowing you’ll have to report back.
So, what’s the one thing you’ve been putting off that would make a real difference? You know what it is… it probably popped into your head before you finished reading the question. What’s your ridiculously small first step? Who will you tell about it?
A year from now, you’ll be glad you started today. But only if you actually start. Get to it, partner!
Happy Networking!
This is really great advice, and it ties nicely to the article you wrote last month about intentions! My future self is already thankful that I’ve set small monthly intentions. In addition to “Journaling January”, I’ve added “Fit February” – keeping things simple and committing to just 10 minutes per day of beginner Yoga or Pilates to get my body moving plus 10 squats multiple times throughout the day to break up sitting at my desk for 10 hours. My hope is that my future self feels a little stronger, more mobile, and grateful for the consistency.
Thanks for the encouragement – I’m going to send that “one message” to make a new connection today as well!
Thank you for always taking time to share your comments, Julie. Your insights are greatly appreciated!