Sometimes the biggest barrier to taking action on your dreams is just getting started. Maybe you can relate to the feeling of putting off your dreams for fear of failure, or worrying that you don’t feel ready. Or, maybe you’re waiting for the so-called perfect time.
In this blog post, we will explore why there is no perfect time to get started on your professional or personal dreams or goals. Here are four ways to stop dragging your feet and finally take action.
1. Ask for help
In any position, whether you are a leader, executive assistant, parent or garbage truck driver — you are only as good as you desire to be. No one can push you to grow and learn and be better today than you were yesterday. You have to be intrinsically motivated to work on yourself.
Whatever it is that you dream of for yourself, it’s not coming to you. If you want to achieve something, it’s up to you to get it. If you need help getting there, it’s up to you to ASK.
A caped crusader won’t do the work for you, but don’t that’s OK because help is literally all around you. It’s easy to stay stuck feeling sorry for yourself instead of just taking one step to make a dream real or to check something off your bucket or todo list.
Find a supportive community, find a mentor or coach, or Google search what to do next. Ask someone who is doing what you’d like to be doing. Simply ask. Step into the responsibility to create the future you want for yourself.
2. Do it scared
If you’re waiting for the day you feel ready to do something, you will be waiting a long time. There will always be reasons to wait. The key is to start.
Even if you feel scared, take steps toward what you want. Whether it’s losing weight, launching a program, hiring a team, or writing your book, small hinges can move big doors and you won’t know that till you pull the handle.
Do it scared.
Sometimes, the fear you have about doing something is bigger in your imagination than it is in reality. The fear of the unknown cripples you, but if you would simply start, you might see that there’s nothing to fear at all. In fact, things may go better than expected!
Maybe your goal is to be less involved in the daily operations of your business. You dream of a four-day work week, but fear how the business will run without you. It’s OK to feel afraid of this. Start by delegating work that doesn’t belong on your plate. Then, learn to build trust in your team that they can operate without you. The final step is to actually not work the fifth day and see how it goes.
You may find that it’s not as scary as you originally thought and may wonder why you didn’t try this years ago.
Remember, there is no perfect time. It’s OK to not be ready. Simply start!
3. Be open to your dream changing as you execute
Sometimes, our big, hairy, audacious goals give us a reason to start. They don’t have to be where we finish, in order for us to be successful. Maybe, in order to do what’s really meant for us, we have to set a goal for ourselves that seems like the right thing, but it’s actually a path to something else.
Many leaders say, “I’d like to write a book.” There is a difference between wanting to write a book and wanting to be a published author. Often, people realize they want to be a published author, but don’t actually enjoy writing. It takes their attempt to start writing to realize that they have good ideas, but perhaps they’re better suited for a podcast or YouTube channel.
It’s OK for your dreams to change as you pursue them. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be a way we discover more about ourselves.
4. Leverage support make your goals real
When you’re dragging your feet or struggling to start, having a trusted person in your corner can make all the difference. They can be the supportive voice in your head that tells you to keep going when all you want to do is quit. They can be your accountability when you want to delay something another week. They can call you on your B.S.
Whether you turn to a friend, partner, family member or assistant, leveraging support is life saving. They can see things from a different perspective and see strength and potential in you that you may not see in yourself.
We need support to get us to our goals, but also to make sure we’re getting the most from the experience, no matter what it is we are trying to accomplish.
If you want more support in your life to accomplish your dreams and take action, learn how an Executive Assistant can help. An empowered EA can take more off your plate, so you have time and energy to pursue your goals. They can also provide accountability to protect your calendar so you have time to start.
If you’re ready to learn more, schedule a free strategy call with us. During our call together, we’ll discuss your goals and challenges as an entrepreneur. Once we understand what needs your attention right now, we’ll present some options for how Priority VA can help.