We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you’re going to be something in life, you have to do something.”
In today’s tech savvy society, it’s easy to do a lot (or at least prepare) and not really do anything at all. There are many people who read every blog and business book on the planet, but never do anything with the information. All of the principles and lessons, case studies and opinions are easily consumed but never put into action.
Photo Credit: Tony Czech https://tonyczech.com/Photo/Alaska/It’s like the guy that plans and trains to climb Mount Everest. He finally gets to base camp and goes, “Yep. I’m here!” “Aren’t you going to climb the mountain?” “Nope. It’s as far as I’m going to go. I’m just going to hang out here and watch everybody else climb the mountain.”
That’s a waste of time, energy, and your life. If you want to be something, don’t just prepare for it, don’t just study for it. Put those principles into practice. Do something! Here’s how:
- Formulate a plan of action. What is it that you’re going to do and how are you going to do it? If you want to read 17 books on leadership, how are you actually going to implement those leadership lessons? How will you measure if it’s working or you’re becoming more successful? Don’t just read the books and hope that someday you’ll become a leader.
- Implement the plan. Make sure that you’re following the plan as best as possible and tweaking where needed. Set reasonable action steps and don’t quit. Quit saying tomorrow and avoiding the difficult tasks.
- Get actual results. How is it working? What’s the accountability in the process? What do you need to change? What’s working well, what’s not working? Dig into it and discover whether or not your plan is effective. Are the 17 books making you a better leader? Would one-on-one coaching or a seminar be a better use of your time and resources?
- Re-evaluate the process. Go back to the drawing board and start all over again. Discover what it takes to get to the next level.
If you will follow these steps, you’ll make it considerably further than just base camp. You might just climb your Everest!
Getting to base camp is only a victory because you made it to the starting line of the journey that matters! I found 48 Day to the Work You Love by Dan Miller and Start by Jon Acuff to be very helpful to get off base camp.
A life changing book for me was “Thou Shall Prosper”- The ten commandments for making money by Daniel Lapin. It was a book that really helped me understand the purpose behind everything I do. To me that purpose is serving god’s people with the god given talents I have.
You may not know exactly what the top of the mountain looks like from base camp. You are at the wrong angle, the fog or clouds are in the way. These are like the obstacles or naysayers in your life. But you KNOW the top is there. Being at base camp means you have chosen to seek the mountaintop, and know it will not be easy, but are prepared to endure the tough climb.
Right on, Tim! Rabbi Lapin’s book is a MUST READ for business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Learn from Experienced Climbers. Just for back from a meeting with a Leader that is willing to assist and coach me to take my business to the next level. Find an Experienced Leader who is willing to STRETCH You.!!
I find that a lot of people get stuck waiting for perfection to come along and end up never leaving basecamp because their plans, supplies, partners or type font aren’t perfect.
Take the first step!
Amen! Perfect is the enemy of finished
I’m convinced you can read my mind or are reading my emails. This post was much needed today, thanks!
Haha. I felt like Chris was picking on how I was a year ago when I read it, so I hear ya!
Keep going Lil! You’re on your way!
Great post Chris. I am trying to be this voice:) Dan Miller’s books are great. Also Jon Acuff. As you said though the key is action. No resource can make us go. We must decide and take a step then another and another.
Love this post CLo! I spent a few years hanging out at base camp…convinced I was climbing the mountain!
The book that got me to start up the mountain is “The Power of Startig Something Stupid” by Richie Norton.
The awesome thing is, by taking his advice in the book, I was honored to interview Richie for the HTYC Podcast…his episode came out today. It was surreal to talk to him!
Thanks for a great post! And encouraging me to do something!
Great post! Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden was a great book, but so were the books Start & Quitter by Jon Acuff. Good to Great by Jim Collins and Linchpin by Seth Godin gave me points on the horizon to aim for. In addition to these books, the blogs and podcasts I subscribe to are priceless! My only problem is finding the time to read them all.
Sometimes when there’s so much to do, base camp feels like a safe place. Many times I feel like I have an elephant on my dinner plate. I know you start with the first bite, but seriously–it’s a whole elephant! Whether it’s taking the first bite of an elephant or the first step on Everest, the task ahead is still daunting.
Thanks for these steps. I am going to put these in a visible place where I can reference them regularly.
John Persons’s book “Mastering the Management Buckets”, it forces you to take action, and I would highly recommend Brad Lomenick’s book “The Catalyst Leader”. I would suggest an interview with him would be awesome for your pod cast as well!
the big key to your post, “Putting it to practice” is a must, like what @MattMcwilliams said in his blog post, muscle memory is every thing. re-evaluating is a lost art too, I find it so helpful.
EntreLeadership has been a good start, but reading a lot of other books on management and leadership (and encouragement by friends/family) have really helped me to start taking the necessary steps to make things happen in my life that I want. It’s not always easy, but I’ve been focusing on reaching goals and growing every day.
QBQ by John Miller started it for me.
Thanks for the great post.
In my work as an agile coach, I have really enjoyed the “Lean startup.” Let’s say you do the standard business model canvas plan. The plan has assumptions. (For example: target market, cost of producing product, the market wants my service)
How do you test those assumptions?
I enjoy that the Lean startup promotes the idea of time boxed cycles: Build something, measure success[with $ or action], evaluate learning. (positive and negative) . The cycle should continuously repeat. Plans, products, services, profits should improve.
The following video explores how Intuit applied these ideas:
The book encourages organizations to value learning. (i.e. validated learning)
Thanks for the push Chris!! 🙂 You are a blessing!
@MichaelRosario