Getting started is often the biggest hurdle we face, but once we get started, it’s easy to keep going.
A body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. So get moving. Get started. Tell yourself you’re simply going to take the first action, and then take it. Often you’ll find yourself finishing the task before you know it.
For example, I don’t like ironing, so I tell myself I’m just going to iron for 15 minutes. Whatever doesn’t get ironed, I’ll leave for another day. A rule I set myself is I can’t ignore any of the items I hate to iron, (that’s cheating). I hate ironing so much I actually clock watch when I’m ironing so I can get my 15 minutes of self imposed ironing out of the way. After my 15 minutes is up, I’m usually amazed at how much I’ve managed to tackle and very often I carry on and finish the whole pile. (Not always I hasten to add)…
I help out at our local foodbank and one of my chores (and it is a chore), is inputting the vouchers of those who have visited us onto the National database. Every one has to be inputted with name, DOB, address and why they visited etc. It’s a darn boring job and if I’m not careful they soon mount up if I don’t keep on top of them. (I’ve got about 100 waiting to be sorted as I type).
So I tell myself I’m just going to do 10. Most of the time I lose count because I get engrossed in what I’m doing and I’ll find I’ve done 30 or more.. And then I want to keep going and I want to finish the job because I like to see my empty box of vouchers. I’ve already promised myself I’m going to tackle 20 of those vouchers later today..
Do you lift weights? Then I bet you already do this. You tell yourself just 3 more reps. Then after those 3 you tell yourself 2 more. After those 2 you tell yourself just 2 more. And so on. In weight training the technique keeps you going. In business it gets you over the hurdle of just getting started.
So if you’re putting off doing something in your business, then just get started. Do the first 5 what-evers, or even the first 1. Then do a little more, and a little more after that. Soon you’ll be finished, and you’ll wonder why you put it off in the first place.
Start early and often. Start a lot, and you might just get addicted to not only starting, but also to getting things done and finished..
