Never Mistake Motion for Action

“I say if it’s going to be done, let’s do it. Let’s not put it in the hands of fate.
Let’s not put it in the hands of someone who doesn’t know me.
I know me best. Then take a breath and go ahead.”
–Anita Baker

In Issue #197

Never Mistake Motion for Action
by Krista Jones

An acquaintance of mine, let’s call him Andy, has been divorced for a couple of years. Andy’s wife has custody of their two kids, but one of his daughters, Courtney, desperately wants to live with Andy.

Andy says he would like for Courtney to live with him as well, but there’s a slight problem: he doesn’t have a house, a car, or a job.

So what does Andy do to try to rectify the situation?

He complains that he can’t find the right job in the Atlanta area, so he moves to a much smaller city. He moves in with a friend and starts looking for a job. Of course, he can’t find a suitable job there either. Eventually, Andy’s friend kicks him out of the house for sleeping late and “borrowing his car” without permission.

So Andy moves in with his mother. He tries to get his remaining friends to loan him money until he can “get back on his feet.” He complains that no one will help him out. All the while, he keeps promising Courtney that he’ll be ready for her soon.

This cycle has continued for eighteen months.

I used to feel badly for Andy. But lately I’ve been getting the sense that he could be doing more to try to turn his life around.

One of Andy’s problems is that he mistakes motion for action.

Sometimes I do that too. Only instead of moving residences, complaining, and making promises I can’t keep, my poison is often reading. Whenever I have a big scary goal, if I’m not careful, I’ll read about how to accomplish it forever.

But reading about something isn’t doing it.

What’s your poison?

Spending an inordinate amount of time setting up your office? Checking and re-checking email?

Regardless of what your goal is, some prep or busy work is required. But don’t let preparation become more important than the goal.

Take a breath and then take some real action.

As for Andy, the real victim is an innocent child. At least when you and I stall on our business goals, we’re the primary ones who suffer.

Resource Referral: Are You Ready to Stop Wishing?

Next month, AWAI Wall of Famer Ed Gandia is going to the guest speaker at our Georgia area Write-4-Success networking meeting in Atlanta. One of Ed’s great successes is his popular e-book Stop Wishing and Start Earning: A Low-Risk Plan to Escape 9–5 and Launch a Profitable Copywriting Business, which has received rave reviews.

Stop Wishing and Start Earning contains the secrets, insights, strategies, and tactics Ed used to go from zero to six figures in just over two years—without sacrificing his job or his income.

Here are a few of the things you’ll discover:

I’m thrilled that we can offer Ed’s secrets to success to you. I found the book very insightful and I’m confident you’ll find nuggets of gold that will help you build your own career.

Quick Business Tip: Develop a Multi-Pronged Marketing Strategy

When you’re trying to build your business, don’t make the mistake of implementing only one or two marketing tactics. I know a few copywriters who quit before they ever got started because their business didn’t grow fast enough to pay the bills.

Part of the problem was that they relied solely on one marketing technique to get their business up and running. If the copywriter did implement more than one tactic, he or she implemented the tactics independently instead of coordinating them so they complemented one another.

Like writing a sales letter, your marketing plan should be well-thought out and flow seamlessly. And the more channels you have, the better your chances of success.