Action > Thinking

Thanking and planning play a very important role when it comes to execution. Although this is very project dependent, the thinking aspect can quickly reach the point of diminishing returns.

As someone who has prioritized thinking over action for a majority of my life, I’m finally reaching a point where I just want to take action. There is so much more than can be gained from trying and failing. Also, most things in life have pretty low consequences. Obviously, the more consequential something is, the more planning is required. Outside of these few instances though, action may be a more beneficial use of our time.

Writing something every day is an effort by me to practice action. I have used the excuse that what I write needs to be perfect for years now. This is an effort to stretch myself artistically while also getting over my fears of imperfection and failure.

The same thing holds true for my podcast. I have held off on reaching out to some guests because I wanted to write the perfect request. I’ve found this to be a waste of time. It’s much better to send a short honest request quickly than to wait. By doing this, I’ve found that most people will respond even if they aren’t interested and they will give feedback if they have any. From this I’ve learned so much more than by simply thinking and waiting.

It’s tempting to try to plan for every contingency. By knowing what to expect, we gain a form of psychological safety that allows us to feel more comfortable. But, as I’ve said in the past, comfort and safety are not where we can gain the most. Also, when we place ourselves in unfamiliar situations, it’s pretty incredible how much we can surprise ourselves. Although we may not have experienced that exact moment before, we will likely be able to come up with a solution quickly to continue to move forward.