EP160: Stop Talking. Begin Doing.
ACTION DRIVES RESULTS
Planning and dreaming are only the beginning!
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Do you ever find yourself stuck in the planning phase? You have the vision, the goal, the dream—but when it comes to taking action, something holds you back? As someone who loves to plan, strategize, and aim for A+ work, I know how easy it is to stay in the thinking phase instead of moving into doing. That’s why one of my favorite quotes from Walt Disney has always been:
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
This quote has been front and center for me for years, but especially now, because my 2025 word of the year is ignite. When I choose a word for the year, I always pair it with a quote that will spark action—and this one is my guiding force.
Why We Lose Momentum on Goals
We’re now in February, which means we’re past the excitement of setting goals for the new year. This is the time of year when motivation starts to fizzle out. In fact:
About 80% of people give up on their goals by February.
The second Friday in January is even called Quitter’s Day because that’s when most people abandon their resolutions.
A survey by Forbes found that the average New Year’s goal lasts only 3.74 months, and only 6% of people stick with their goals beyond a year.
Why does this happen? There are many reasons—some goals are too unrealistic, too broad, or too difficult. Others fade away due to a lack of motivation, external distractions, or simply because they weren’t the right goals to begin with. But the biggest reason we don’t follow through?
Mindset.
Our brains are wired to keep us comfortable. If we don’t intentionally recognize and plan for the brain drama that will arise—self-doubt, limiting beliefs, lack of motivation—we will always find excuses not to take action.
Are You Taking Action?
It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of talking, thinking, and planning—but without action, goals remain just ideas. Think about Walt Disney himself.
He had a dream of building a park where families could experience magic together. That dream became Disneyland—but not because he simply imagined it. He took action. He experimented, pushed industry boundaries, faced setbacks, and kept moving forward.
He didn’t wait for perfect conditions.
He didn’t let failure stop him.
He turned ideas into action.
Now, think about yourself. Are you actively working toward your goals, or are you waiting for "the right time"?
Why Is Action So Hard?
There are many reasons why taking action can feel difficult:
Fear of failure or imperfection – What if it doesn’t work out?
Overthinking & analysis paralysis – What if I don’t have all the details figured out?
Waiting for perfect conditions – I’ll start when I have more time, money, energy, confidence…
Feeling overwhelmed – The goal seems too big, so we do nothing.
These barriers can often be linked to personality styles. In Insights Discovery (one of my favorite tools!), different energy types approach action differently:
Cool Blue: Gets stuck in analysis paralysis, over-planning before acting.
Earth Green: Focuses on how the decision impacts others, delaying action.
Sunshine Yellow: Jumps into action but gets distracted by new ideas.
Fiery Red: Takes action quickly—sometimes without enough planning.
Knowing your natural tendencies helps you identify where you might be getting in your own way.
The Cost of Inaction
Not taking action has consequences, whether in leadership or personal growth:
Missed opportunities – The promotion you wanted, the business idea you had, the skill you wanted to develop...they won’t happen without action.
Loss of credibility & trust – With yourself and others. If you say you’ll do something but don’t, confidence erodes.
Frustration & demotivation – The cycle of setting goals and not following through can be draining.
Both action and inaction require energy. The question is: Where do you want to invest your energy?
How to Move from Talking to Doing
If you’re ready to step into action, here are some ways to get started:
Know Yourself & Your Barriers - Be honest: What typically holds you back? Fear? Over-planning? Perfectionism? Identify your patterns so you can shift them.
Get Clear on What Action Looks Like - Action doesn’t have to be huge—it can be as simple as putting something on your calendar, making a call, or breaking a big goal into smaller steps.
Make Decisions Ahead of Time - One of my favorite mindset hacks! Think about what obstacles might come up and plan for them. If you know distractions, self-doubt, or procrastination will show up—decide now how you’ll handle them.
Start Small & Build Momentum - Rather than focusing on the big picture, ask:
What’s one small action I can take today?
What are three things I can commit to this week?Embrace Imperfection - Waiting for perfect conditions is a lie we tell ourselves. Walt Disney built Disneyland in one year—it wasn’t perfect, but it opened, and it changed the world.
Challenge Your Fears - If fear of failure is stopping you, ask: What’s the worst that could happen? Then, ask: What’s the best that could happen?
Find Accountability & Support - A mentor, coach, or even a peer can help you see where you’re getting in your own way. Sometimes, we need someone to call out our excuses and push us forward.
Taking action is a choice. Talking about it is easy. Planning is comfortable. But doing—that’s where the magic happens.
What Do You Think?
What’s one goal you’ve set but haven’t acted on? And more importantly—what’s one step you can take today?
Head over to my Instagram account and send me a DM - - let me know what you come up with!
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