Prefer to listen to the audio version of this post? You can find that HERE.
Taking action is essential for turning ideas into outcomes. But, the path between choosing actions and achieving the outcomes you desire may not be as smooth and straightforward as you would like.
There’s a very prominent idea (myth) that if we take the “right” action, we can create a straight line to results; and it will be smooth sailing from there. It’s the underlying selling point of programs and courses, plans and processes - if we just know the right things and take the prescribed steps, we’ll get what we want. We see it in business, in wellness, in education - everywhere!
But, from what I can tell, taking action has tons of benefits, but guaranteed outcomes aren’t one of them.
The challenge of waiting for the “right” action
My experience has been that when I believe action will create a specific outcome:
I spend too long choosing the next action to take
I wait until the action I chose is “perfect” before I release it into the world
I spend too much time and money on the systems to support it
I commit to it longer than may be best for me
Most importantly, when I put pressure on actions to create outcomes, I sit in judgement, frustration, and thoughts of, “what a waste!” if they don’t work out. These are, of course, all things that slow me down and interfere with seeing the value, insights, and ideas that resulted from the action.
A personal experience
When I decided to start my own business, I was completely overwhelmed by all of the steps I would have to take to make it a reality. I spent a loooong time deciding where to start, and eventually decided it should be with a company name and logo.
I held brainstorming sessions with colleagues, worked with a designer, and came up with a name and logo that I still love to this day.
But then, a few months into business, I decided it would be better to have a personal brand; and the name and logo that I had invested time, money, and energy into didn’t really fit.
Wow, was it hard for me to let go and move forward after all that I had put into it. And the self-talk that came along with that decision made me wonder if I was really cut out for entrepreneurship.
The value of taking action
While there’s no such thing as the “right” action, we still have to get going because, as I said right at the beginning, taking action is everything - without action, we can’t create our art or our offers; and we can’t support our communities in the way we desire.
While the outcomes of actions aren’t a sure thing, there is so much value we can get no matter what:
Increased clarity about what works and what doesn’t and what we want to do next
A better sense of what feels authentic and aligned so we can have more of that
New direction that may actually get us closer to the outcome we desire
A personal experience - 5 years later
Back in December, I had a beautiful moment of clarity on the next offer I wanted to create in my business. And, of course, first things first, I started thinking about all the things I would have to do to make it happen - Did I need a new website? Should I start with my email list? What about social media or blogging or both?
And I just picked one to see where it led:
I wrote two posts on my old blog and realized I wanted a fresh start and moved to Substack.
I made a few posts on Instagram and realized it didn’t feel great for my energy, so I decided to prioritize networking instead.
I started a landing page, but realized I could do most of what I needed in my email service provider and that felt like a better fit.
By taking a few first steps, I was able to work on my messaging, have a little fun, and, after a short while, move on to things that work better for me.
It’s an unfolding - each action we take helps us peel back another layer so we can get closer to the long-term goals (which, by the way, we do eventually get to - we just can’t know right from the start what will get us there).
Shifting your relationship with action
Does any of this resonate with you?
If so, I invite you to revisit your relationship with taking action - try things just to see what happens, have some fun with it, lean into curiosity and play, be agile, let things go without judgement.
Because action rarely leads to direct outcomes. More often, it leads to new ideas, more clarity, and different action. The more we can lean into curiosity, flexibility, and experimentation, the more we can experience less stress, more ease, and more fun, and, in the long run, more outcomes!
Questions for inner inquiry:
I love sharing my ideas and experiences, but also honor that your takeaways will be based on your experiences.
Check out the questions below to connect this content to what feels relevant and supportive for you:
What feels supportive to you when you are choosing actions?
How has action led to intended outcomes vs. different outcomes?
What are your biggest barriers to taking action and what helps you move through them?
Want additional insights, personal stories, and updates on what I’m currently working on? Join my email list HERE.
And don’t forget to check out the blog-cast (fancy way to say - me, reading this post, adding my commentary, and laughing at my own jokes along the way) You can find that HERE.