Section 9: Taking Action
A well-devised plan is crucial, but it will never feel perfect.
While your plan is important, it’s also necessary to execute on it. You can’t wait until your plan feels perfect before taking action.
One of the great takeaways from the military is your ability to plan. PCS moves, deployments, and training exercises all require a plan.
You can use your planning expertise to build the next chapter of your life. A solid plan provides the structure and guidance to move from Point A (your life today) to Point B (your future vision).
Without a plan, you risk falling into a rut of inaction. When you don't know what you're working toward, it becomes impossible to measure progress.
Imperfect Action
As important as it is to have a plan, that plan will never feel perfect. You can spend months trying to create the perfect plan, but if you don't take action, it has no value.
This is a sticking point for many people. They find themselves in an endless loop of refining their plan. They mistakenly think that their plan must be perfect before they can take any action on it.
Having a high standard is encouraged, but give yourself permission to learn, make mistakes, and embrace failure.
Don’t wait until everything feels perfect, because it never will. Remember that each failure is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Think back to your first time driving a vehicle. Chances are you didn't consider yourself an expert driver the first time driving.
It took years of practice and imperfect action (hopefully no accidents) to gain the driving skills you have today. Now you're able to drive without giving it much thought.
The same is true when you transition to something new. You'll feel a bit choppy, uncertain, and nervous at first.
The actions you take might not be perfect. But each outcome provides feedback on how to improve for the next time.
So how do you overcome the “perfection loop” and avoid getting stuck in the planning phase? That’s what we’ll cover next!