So what’s worse—A starter who never finishes or a finisher who never starts?
Either way, to accomplish whatever we want from our business, we can’t simply will it into being. Instead, we must take strategic, persistent, and consistent action to make it so.
Below are ten quotes on action—along with my commentary on each. Use these inspirational quotes to help you shake the rust off, grease the gears, and get moving toward your vision.
➀ Newton's First Law of Motion
A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force.
In business (especially small businesses), it’s imperative to keep your feet moving forward constantly. Yes, you can coast once in a while. However, I don’t recommend allowing your business ever to lose momentum.
Why?
A body at rest tends to stay at rest. For a small business, that’s a recipe for failure!
➁ Conquer Fear With Action
If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Running a business can sometimes be scary—that new project may seem daunting. Your new marketing campaign may seem like such a burden. That new sales initiative may appear to be an uphill battle.
Could that explain your procrastination?
Indeed, it makes absolute sense!
Remember, procrastination is your mind’s defense mechanism that helps you avoid the pain you’ve associated with taking action—and inaction breeds doubt—hence fear.
So how do we conquer the fear? Let’s continue with the following action quote.
➂ Just Get Started
The Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With One Step.
I played a lot of baseball as a youth. And during that period, I learned numerous lessons that I carry forward.
For example, baseball screams concepts like focus, discipline, repetition, and calculated action—all critical to winning in business.
Although our mission was always to win the World Series or the tournament we were in, it was drilled into us to focus only on one pitch, batter, inning, and game at a time.
Our coaches pushed us to stay focused and excellently execute the immediate task.
The game didn’t wait for us, though. We couldn’t procrastinate stepping up to the plate. There are rules to the game, and it moves forward regardless, just like the world of business. So it won’t wait too long for you. Someone else is always ready and willing to take your spot if you don’t get moving.
So get moving.
How?
It’s simple.
Identify the one thing—one small task that would move your business forward if you were to do it right now.
Identify it and nail it!
That simple first step makes it much easier to take a second step—and then a third—and so on.
Next thing you know, you go from standing still—to walking—to full-out sprinting with the wind at your back!
For those of you sporting a few gray hairs these days, here’s a flash back that will drive the point home while bringing a reminiscent smile to your face—it always does for me—no matter the season.
➃ Make It Happen
Nothing happens until something moves.
I frequently leverage this action quote with my coaching clients, especially when discussing sales or the lack thereof.
For example—Want more sales?
Put a game plan together and take massive action. It’s that simple.
Of course, as their business coach, I offer to help them assemble that plan and hold them accountable for accomplishing it.
Typically I can quickly assess one’s potential for success. I base it on whether the client is sporting a proactive or reactive posture to whatever they say they desire.
Essentially, if you are waiting for someone to hand it to you, that’s reactive.
However, if you consistently and persistently take massive action based on your game plan, that’s proactive!
Which one are you?
You are likely to be proactive with certain things and reactive with others. That is why having a rock star team that complements one another is very beneficial. Do what you do best and hire out the rest.
➄ Avoid Eating Scraps
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.
Ever heard the saying the early bird gets the worm? Well, if I’m hungry and the choices are to sit around and hope to eat or get off my ass and find food, I’ll get into massive action asap.
Are you hungry enough?
If not, what has to happen to stimulate action?
➅ Play Full-Out
If you want to play the game and win, you've got to play full out.
Playing full out requires taking action—massive action.
Not just any action, though. I’ve never been a fan of action, for action’s sake. However, I am a huge fan of strategic, tactical, and planned action.
That’s what sets the stage for winning.
And winning is contagious, making it much easier to stay in action.
Are you playing full-out?
➆ Don't Just Look At It
Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must also step up the stairs.
Yes, having a vision of what you want to manifest in your business and why is imperative. A strong company vision will spark the passion needed to move your ass—especially during tough times!
However, a vision is not enough.
You must get moving. Get your plan in hand and get started.
➇ Make Time Your Ally
Time can be an ally or an enemy. What it becomes depends entirely upon you, your goals, and your determination to use every available minute.
How are you using your time? Are you in action doing busyness or business? Let’s not confuse motion with purposeful action.
My secret here…
I apply the 80/20 rule. Typically, 20% of actions drive 80% of results. But conversely, 80% of actions drive only 20% of results. Hmmm—worth investigating?
Which actions of yours fall into that 20%? Identify those. Do those. Look to mitigate or eliminate the rest.
Sounds brutal… I know. However, I highly encourage you to consider trying on this approach.
➈ Is It The Right Time For Action?
The time is always right to do what is right.
Do you love what you do? How about who you do it for? Is your product top-notch? Does it bring value to its intended audience?
If so, what are you waiting for? Get moving. There will never be a more perfect time than right now. The time is always right to do what’s right!
➉ System To Quiet Your Mind
Anytime there’s something you know you should do, but you feel uncertain, afraid, or overwhelmed…just take control by counting backward 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1. That’ll quiet your mind. Then, move when you get to 1.
I love this action quote! It’s simple and effective. No explanation is needed.
Try it on.
5 – 4 – 3 – 2- 1!
The entrepreneurs of yesterday and today have all agreed on one point: taking action is the only way to experience proper growth and success.
Whether it’s Edison inveterately changing his approach until he hit upon a working solution to lightbulbs or T. Harv Eker boldly deciding to quit his nine-to-five job with nothing more than a dream and vision, we can learn that persistence and courage are essential in attaining our goals.
The power of thriving lies within each of us no matter what obstacles come our way; it just takes a bit of self-assurance, commitment, and risk-taking to unlock them.
So don’t let yourself be held back by fear—grab the bull by its horns and start moving!
Are you having trouble getting into action? Would you like some help with that? If so, reach out today to begin making powerful changes toward the future you want for yourself.
Also, are you fond of other famous (or maybe not so famous) quotes that move you into action? I’d love to hear them. Feel free to share them in the comments below!
Grab a complimentary copy of our newly revised 2023 Strategic Planner—a great tool to help “Get Your Year in Gear” in 2023!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
