Do you tell yourself that you’ll get started on your big plans at some future date? That you can start a business after the children graduate from college? Or, maybe you’ll just wait until the New Year or your birthday to begin your exercise program.
We’ve all done it. There always seems to be one or more excuses – good reasons not to get started right now.
If you’re waiting to begin pursuing your dreams, you’re likely just procrastinating! But do you know the real reason(s) why you’re waiting?
Which of these excuses is yours?
1. You’re waiting for the perfect time
Are you waiting for the stars to align and the heavens to tap you on the shoulder and give you permission? If this is you, then you’ll be waiting for a long time. There’s never a perfect time to get started on something significant, so just get started.
2. You’re waiting for something else to happen first
Maybe you’re waiting for the children to complete school, or for your mortgage to be paid off. Or you’re waiting until your next promotion. Or you’re waiting until your parents pass away and leave you an inheritance. You’ve become a waiter…
3. You’re waiting till you have more money
There’s something you can do to get started today regardless of your budget. Even something as small as just doing research or learning a new skill is good enough. There’s never enough money. You’ll find the money you need along the way.
4. You’re waiting for Monday, or the first of the month, or the first of the year, or…
Many people wait until Monday to start a diet. Or plan to start an exercise routine in the new month or year. There’s nothing magical about any day or date on the calendar.
The calendar is a man-made invention. There’s no reason to be bound by it. Will you get more accomplished if you start today or if you wait three weeks?
5. You’re waiting until you know more
Some people believe they need to know every shred of information related to their goal or dream before they can get started. This simply isn’t true. It’s just another procrastination technique.
You don’t need to know a lot to begin. Sometimes, just knowing the first step is enough. This first step tactic is one I’ve used to grow my business in 2020 and even launch a new product – in the middle of a worldwide pandemic!
6. You don’t really think you’ll be successful
It makes sense that you won’t get started if you believe you can’t be successful. This is a sign that you might need to start with a smaller objective. A perfect goal is one that you believe you can achieve that also excites you while pushing you out of your comfort zone.
In this case, why not address the underlying issue instead of stalling? And once you address it, then give your dream your all!
7. You’re afraid you will be successful
Many people are afraid of success. They’re comfortable with their current situation even if they don’t like it. They would rather have predictable misery than uncertain success. There’s no way to predict 100% what your life will be like if you’re successful.
Focus on the positive aspects of success. List out all of the benefits and visualize yourself enjoying those benefits. Keep your focus on the prize even as you work through any challenges that arise.
8. You’ve been burnt before
It’s hard to get started when you’ve tried something and it didn’t work out. It’s even harder if you’ve failed more than once. The truth is that if you have a big goal or dream, you’ll probably fail at least once before you achieve success.
Working on your big goals can be lonely. It’s much easier to push forward when you have an accountability partner or a success team.
Being part of a mastermind of businesswomen is one of the key strategies that helped me sail through 2020. It’s definitely not easy having people who hold you accountable to your goals. But it’s one of the core strategies used by successful people.
9. You’re plain scared
If you’re honest with yourself, this is the most likely reason you’re postponing the pursuit of your dreams. Whether you dread the feeling of being hungry on a diet, sweating on a treadmill, or making a fool out of yourself with a failed business, you’re simply afraid.
Make yourself more afraid of doing nothing. Imagine how terrible it would be to waste your life. Think about how awful it would be to never test yourself or to never have a chance of living your dreams.
Over to you…
Excuses are a regular way of avoiding getting started on your goals or dreams. In most cases, it’s better to get started immediately, rather than waiting for just the right time to get started.
Even a little progress is better than no progress. You can’t be successful if you don’t get started. Your dreams are waiting for you. No more excuses. Have faith in yourself and jump in!
(Image Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos)
