How to put good ideas into action quickly
Continuing on with the topic of “time”, here´s another variation. This is a comment I got recently, and it´s a common theme:
“I appreciate your information on networking. I have gotten some good ideas, but unfortunately, I am not very good about putting them into action. Am keeping them in a folder for future reference.”
My mother collected all kinds of information about things she´d like to do one day. She never got around to doing any of them. As we threw away these carefully saved information after she died, I wondered, “Why?”
What´s the use of good information (or good ideas), if they´re not used in some manner, at least sometimes?
If the information is good, why not use it right away? Why save it for the future?
In my experience, the most common responses — whether it´s in the business networking context or otherwise — are:
- “I don´t have the time right now.”
Translation: it´s not a priority.
Take the case of my mother, for instance. She had many interests, both professional and otherwise. And although she never got around to do any of the things in her carefully saved folders, she did plenty of other stuff. Clearly, she knew what her priorities were.
So, if something is not a priority for you right now, that´s fine. The real question is, will it ever become a priority?
If not, or you’re not sure, let it go.
You’ll always be able to find good ideas and information when the time is right. Really.
- “I’m not very good about putting ideas into action.”
Translation: I don´t know exactly how to convert these ideas into manageable actions.
In such cases, you may need to learn new skills, or further develop existing skills, so you can do what you want to without feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed.
So invest the time to figure out what specifically you’re unable to do (or feel uncomfortable doing). Then learn it.
Otherwise, let it go.
It´s not a priority for you at this time.
- “I do it, but I’m not consistent about it.”
Usually, this happens when you´re missing a piece of the puzzle. For instance, trying to do something alone that really is meant to be a team effort.
If you come across a concept or information that you think will make a big difference to you, take the time to figure out what exactly is stopping you from being consistent.
Then find what you need to put the good idea or information to use.
Otherwise, let it go.
It may be a good idea, but probably not a priority for you currently.
If you want to explore any of these topics further, let´s talk.
Also, along these lines, here´s a book that may be of interest:
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less
Bottom line: de-clutter! Your time and energy are precious. Use them wisely.
