It was the Monday after an extra-long weekend. I had taken five days off (as “off” as you can be when you own a business and you’re addicted to email). On that Monday, I had a call to review a strategic marketing plan with Sandra on my team.
When my alarm went off that morning, I did not want to get out of bed. I changed the time from 6:30 to 7:30, calculating how long I could stay under the warm covers until it was absolutely necessary to get up.
My meeting with Sandra went well, but I felt like I was in a bit of a fog. I kept yawning — you know those great big yawns that make you feel like you’re going to cry?
It was a bit concerning as to why I was so tired.
If you want something to #change, you have to change it. Read more for a #business pep-talk to JUST START: Click To Tweet
The truth is, since we came back to Nova Scotia, I don’t walk anymore. When we are in Florida, I walk in the morning and at the end of the day too. Taking our dogs out for a walk in the neighbourhood is a way for me to get away from “work” and enjoy being outside.
Where we live in Nova Scotia doesn’t allow for that same walking ease.
In that moment, a voice in my head said, “You need to create more energy.”
You know how it goes: if you want something to change, you have to change it.
That night, I took an iron supplement and a B12 shot and decided: tomorrow is a new day, and I’m going to create some energy.
I had decided I was going to get on my treadmill each morning for at least five minutes. I can do five minutes. It’s enough to get me started, and a bargaining tool I can use to convince myself to start. Anyone can do anything for five minutes, right?
Tuesday morning, I woke up and kept my commitment. I put my running shoes on, spent 20 minutes on the treadmill and then some crunches too.
Wednesday morning, the same thing. Two days in a row, feeling a tiny bit more consistent.
Thursday morning, I woke up with pain. I don’t know if it’s my hip or my butt– but it hurts. I know I cannot do 20 minutes on the treadmill.
Rationalization sets in the minute you face any form of discomfort.
I know this too well. It happens in business too.
Rationalization sets in the minute you face any form of discomfort – in life and business. What matters most: what you do next. Click To Tweet
Start – and keep going.
I really didn’t want to hit the treadmill. Heck, I didn’t know that I could have even bent over to put running shoes on. My hip hurt that much, so this is what I did instead:
I wore my slippers and my pyjamas. I got on that treadmill and I walked slowly for ten minutes. And to finish it off, I stretched and took Advil.
We often think our biggest problem in business is finishing.
I want to challenge you to consider, maybe your biggest problem is starting:
- Starting to write your blog
- Record your podcast
- Shoot a video
- Ask for that sale
- Do your bookkeeping
- Write your book
- Have that difficult conversation with a customer or team member
Whatever it is for you, have you started it?
So much of taking action actually starts in our minds, but it never translates to starting in our lives.
If you don’t start, you can’t finish. If you don’t start, you can’t change anything.
Whatever it is that just floated through your mind– that thing you know you haven’t started yet and just popped up as you resonated with what I am saying here– start. Start for five minutes a day.
You can do anything for five minutes, right?
So much of taking action actually starts in our minds, but it never translates to starting in our lives. If you don’t start, you can’t finish. Click To Tweet
What “thing” popped into your head? Tell me below!
