“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford
It took me over 15 years to start writing. I talked myself out of it thousands of times. I would tell myself, “I don’t“:
- have enough time
- know enough information
- have enough content
- know the process for publication
- have a platform large enough to sell any books
- know grammar or spelling well enough
I look over the last few months of blogging, and I can see that once I decided “I will“, then the “I don’t” began shifting to “I didn’t“. I still have a lot to learn, and I am okay with that. Pretty soon, I will look back and say:
“I don’t” became “I didn’t” and “I will” became “I did”
The truth is, I could:
- adjust my schedule to make time
- read more books, listen to podcasts, go to conferences
- write about what I do know, and write more as I learn more
- study the process for publication, talk to other authors
- expand my platform by putting myself out there for others to see
- review language, writing, and spelling classes, and have others proofread before publication
The shift from “I don’t” to “I did” is like the remote control. I can see it across the room, but I have to move to get it.
My first 5k “run” was about 6 years ago. I had never ran more than a mile on purpose before then. Since then, I have “run” two other 5k’s. Each took me between 45-50 minutes.
This year I signed up for a half-marathon. This wasn’t on my bucket list. I am not a “passionate runner”. I ride BMX bicycles and do tricks for fun (more on this on my Wednesday blog).
I am doing this half-marathon for a cause – raise $3,000 to give clean water to communities in Africa. Learn more and/or help support me by clicking here.
When I look back to the day I said “yes” to the the half-marathon, I remember telling myself, “I don’t”:
- have the skill or the time
- have the resources
- have the discipline to exercise for that type of run
- have the capacity to run that long or that far
- know what to expect
In October, I will look back and say:
I didn’t. I did.
Each Sunday we have been talking about weekly planning. Today, I encourage you to think about the “I don’t” that keeps you from making meaningful progress towards a goal you want to achieve.
“I don’t” will not become “I didn’t” until “I will” becomes “I did”.
COMMENT: What is one action (“I will”) you can take to change your “I don’t” to “I didn’t”?