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The
Staggered Steps of Change
The past few articles I wrote, I touched
on different aspects of change. This month I started to
think about what actually
takes place when things are progressing
and moving forward. I know I want things to change. I can
visualize myself doing the things I love; talking
to people I can help, sharing my gifts.
But
how do I decide what steps to take first in order to reach
my vision?
Last week, a friend gave me a wonderful
idea for a new part of my business. It combines travel,
adventure, and continuing to work with people.
It is a BIG idea! Or at least in my head right now, it
is a REALLY big idea.
It has kept me up for a few nights now.
There are all kinds of questions rolling around in my head.
Who has the expertise to help me? Where would I find the
clients? When would I do it? How would I fund it?
This morning I wondered if maybe these
questions were paralyzing me from moving
forward or were these thoughts running through my head actually
helping me process and develop this idea?
The
hardest part
of implementing change is deciding when to stop dreaming
and when to start acting.
As for myself, I have developed some “mile
markers” to test out ideas and see
if they should stick around for the long haul and actually
become part of my life, mission and vision.
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I think about them for
more than a week or two.
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I dream about them or
find myself awake in the
middle of the night, planning.
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I start talking about
the idea, testing it out on friends.
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It becomes part of my
journal entries
to the point I write a business plan or vision an outline.
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My gut says YES!!!
 Once
my gut says yes, it is a more practical process. After
years of business planning, I have a practice of taking
most decisions, even personal, through this checklist:
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What
resources do I need to make this happen?
-
Who
do I need to tell or ask for help?
- When
would I take action or launch this change?
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What
is the experience or outcome I desire?
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Do I have the financial
resources to make this change? Where
can I find the resources if I don't have them?
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Why
am I making this change?
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Is
it something I want
for myself or am I responding to external
“shoulds”?
If I can come up with satisfactory
answers to all these questions, it is
time to move forward. The good news is that by the time
I have answered all those questions, I have practically
written my plan!
But…here
is the gotcha! If every great idea were
that simple to process through, we’d be taking positive
actions all the time. However, fear usually gets in the
way. Let me rephrase that…
fear
always gets in the way, at least for a short period of
time.
I know I am dealing with fear when I hear
voices that say:
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You can’t afford
to spend that kind of time,
money, focus, energy on that project.
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You will probably fail
anyway.
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You don’t know
how to take that action.
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You should wait
a couple of years.
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That will never work.
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You
will regret this.
Ugh! I hate fear! It truly
confuses a decision. How do you know if the voice you are
hearing is fear talking and not just common sense?
Excellent question.
I have come to believe in “signs
from the Universe” which is
a voodoo way of saying the
resources you need and want will start to come to you
during this evaluation if it is the right thing to do.
You will begin to notice other people talking about the
same idea or sharing information with you that you need.
Things begin to move forward easily and without that much
effort on your part.
For example, take this business idea keeping
me up nights. Yesterday, my mom questioned me about my
desire to travel more and when I was planning
my next trip. Today, a friend sent me a resource for cheap
flights. A coaching acquaintance of mine has a friend
who is a travel agent in Scandinavia and could help with
arrangements and itinerary. A
mere coincidence or a "sign from the Universe"?
There seems to be a conspiracy to get
me moving.
My final tip:
If all else fails, pick
up the Magic 8 ball! All signs point to
YES!!
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Susan
Maravetz