There is nothing wrong with having lofty goals and big dreams. They help us improve in life and in business.But how often do we follow through and see those big ideas to completion? How often does it get difficult and we fall back to our usual tactics and habits and explain it away because we’re busy or our industry has changed or some other lame excuse?
Doing what it takes to get it done is where the work resides.
No one wants to fail. No one wants to aim low. But something happens between the big dream, the big plan and the big result. Some may point to resources or expertise but long before those become a factor is the one element that prevents us from executing the big idea most - ourselves.
You can live in theory and spend all day thinking big. It’s an entirely new level to do what it takes to deliver big results. I have many big plans that remain comfortably tucked inside the safety of my mind. I'm sure you have some too. That way we can find solace in the fact that they 'could' work someday with flawless execution.
Tweet This. Theory That. Blog This. You Should do That.
The social web has ample examples of big game talk. It's good to dream big and reach for new heights but articulating it and accomplishing it are vastly different activities. We've all tried to shift the excuse to an external catalyst but we know that's simply not the case. Being honest about our effort is where growth occurs.
Fear of success can paralyze us.
Most (all?) of us have talked big and probably meant it but haven't done the work to actually see it happen. Perhaps it's because we don't know how to take theory and make action. Maybe we aren't as interested as we thought. Or possibly we are simply blowing smoke - even at ourselves. And as I write this, I see the long list of grand plans I have made and it's time to get rid of the list or get off my butt and get it done. Maybe you now feel the same.
You may think big but do you do big?
Kneale Mann
image credit: drjeffadams
