Lead Or Be Lunch: The Power Of Earning InfluenceSample

I'm a father of three and vividly remember when my kids were little and just learning how to swim. Parents reading will know exactly what I'm talking about. I would be in the pool while they stood there frozen, eyes big and wide, looking at me in the water from the side of the pool. They wanted so badly to be in the water but were unsure of what would happen if they just let go of their inhibitions and jumped in. I would swim up to them with my arms outstretched, encouraging them to jump, explaining that I would be there to catch them. This tactic did little to make things easier in their mind. The act of jumping in would require more than just the faith that I would be there to save them. Jumping required them to take action. Action, as we all know, is always scarier when doing something for the very first time versus any of the times that follow. Luckily, my kids let go of their inhibitions and jumped and they haven't stopped swimming since. The look on each of their faces upon realizing they weren't hurt, but safe in the water and swimming like mini champions is a priceless memory of mine.

I happen to believe that there is no secret recipe to achieving success but there is a key common component required to achieve your goal. That component is action. Success can be measured by an accumulation of actions set forth by you every single day that will put you one step closer to achieving your overall goal. So often, people neglect taking action because it requires actual work to be done. There's nothing glamorous about it at times and it's not always the most "fun" thing to do but it will always be the right thing if you want to find success in your endeavors.

Taking persistent massive action when you are in pursuit of greatness, looking to maximize your career success, or achieve a specific goal is absolutely necessary. Action requires you to get out of your comfort zone and in to the game even when you may not feel like it. The fact of the matter is that there are absolutely no shortcuts to success.

What are you failing to take action on? Why?