Earlier this week, I was coaching one of the women in our Create Work You Love Program. She shared; “Vanessa, I have some clarity about my unique gifts and talents, and then I get all these ideas about what I could be doing, but I don’t know which one to take action on.”
Overwhelmed by options.
There were so many things this multi-talented woman could be doing, she didn’t know where to start. So she kept pondering it.
Scared of making the wrong choice.
As we dug a little deeper, she realized she’s been afraid of making a mistake, of choosing the wrong thing.
Waiting for the “best option.”
So often in life, we wait for the best option to make itself known. We become paralyzed by perfection or by uncertainty. And we believe that we shouldn’t make a move until we know the end goal, or at least which direction we should head.
What if we’ve got it backwards?
I’ve come to learn that action is what leads to insight.
Steve Jobs gave a commencement speech at Stanford in which he shared; “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
It’s only in hindsight that all the dots connect.
You make one choice, it leads to something else, which puts a certain person or opportunity on your path that wouldn’t otherwise be there, and that leads to xxx, which leads to yyy, and next thing you know, you are exactly where you want to be.
The woman I was coaching knew about this concept but she was still struggling.
Sometimes, you just gotta make some dots!
I told her; “You don’t need to analyze this more or wait for further insight. You have enough information. All you need to do is take the first step. Then you’ll get feedback. Did you like it? How did you feel while doing it? Did some new idea or person come up as a result of that action you took? You just gotta start making some dots!”
If you don’t take action, there are no dots to connect.
Stop worrying about the “best” option or the “right” next step, and instead give yourself permission to take a step. Any step.
I recommend taking the step that makes you feel most alive (and maybe scared!) when you think about it.
Do that.
After you’ve taken that first step, two things will happen;
- You’ll create momentum.
Without realizing it, you’ll put yourself on the path towards what you want.
- You’ll get feedback.
As you take that step, you’ll get feedback. Pause to notice how you feel while taking this step. Did you like it, not like it?
Then notice what happens afterwards. Do new people or situations come to you as a result? This will give you information on the next step you want to take. Maybe it’s another step in the same direction. Or, maybe it’s a step in the opposite direction. Or maybe it’s 23.6 degrees to the left, then 48.7 degrees to the right.
The point is…you won’t know until you take action.
So today, my invitation to you is to start making some dots!
If you want something in your life to improve, or you want clarity around an aspect of your life, what’s one action you can take to move in that direction?
Imperfect action trumps perfect solutions every day.
Rather than analyzing the situation or waiting for the perfect solution, take one imperfect action.
Let me know in the comments – have you ever been stuck? When you’re afraid of making the wrong choice, what helps you stop worrying and start taking action?
We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment Below!
May you create work and a life you love,
Vanessa
P.S. If you want support in making some dots – apply to our upcoming 2019 Mastermind Program!
This is a 10 month group coaching program for women who are seriously committed to creating the life they want. If you want a beautiful and fulfilled life, where you get up in the morning and know in your heart that you are where you want to be…this 2019 Mastermind could be for you!