Paralysis by Action

We've all heard it or seen it. The analyzer that needs to run just one more test, develop one more contingency plan before doing anything.  They get so mired in the details that they hesitate to take action.

What about Paralysis through Action? Seems impossible, right? If I'm doing, how can I be paralyzed?

I was talking to an entrepreneur about his decision-making style and it was clear that he was highly practical. The highly extrinsic, or practical, is always concerned with doing. They might just ship a bunch of material to a jobsite and begin working on a house without even a set of blueprints. This entrepreneur owns four businesses - one of them in India - and is constantly involved in his teams' projects and tasks. He's doing a lot, so he should be highly successful. But is he?

Yes, he makes money. Yes, he has four businesses that are productive. Through our discussion, he realized that while he knew he was moving fast down the highway, he really didn't have a clear picture of where he wanted to go. He likened it to going to Rockford from Chicago and taking side trips to Schaumburg, Naperville, De Kalb, etc. He might NEVER get to Rockford!

This is what I mean by "Paralysis by Action."

What do you think? Do you think it can really happen? Any examples?  I'd love to hear them.

Is Analysis Paralysis Stopping You From Taking Action?

Analysis Paralysis is where you can’t make any forward progress because you bog yourself down in details, tweaking, brainstorming, research, and… anything but just getting on with it. Sound familiar?

It’s something I struggled with. Partly out of fear of failure, partly because I love the idea-generation phase of projects, mostly because I am an analysis geek on occasion.

There is hope though, even for chronic cases.

It’s not actually about setting your sights low, or dropping your personal standards. What you have to do is identify those things you have to get right from the get-go, those items that do need analysis, and what can be fixed later.

While it is perfectly natural to want to spend time thinking about a project, especially one with an element of risk, there comes a point where any more thinking is counter-productive and you need to start making some progress.

1.     What do you absolutely have to do for the project to be a success?

2.     What tasks can absolutely not be put off while later?

3.     What are the most painful items to change post launch?

4.     What could realistically go wrong?

With procrastination it always comes down to just doing it but discovering the reasons why you aren’t (other than being a lazy geek making excuses!) can be very helpful in getting your sorry behind working. Analysis Paralysis often comes from learned behavior over several years. Either it has proven beneficial, so you do a little more thinking and planning each time, or not enough planning has caused problems so each occasion you get a little more cautious.

It never fails to surprise me how different the world seems when my analysis faces reality. We all get some things right while other things seem to come from outer-space and no amount of thinking would have predicted it. Thinking on your feet is often as important as any amount of analysis.

7 Tips to Help Overcome Analysis Paralysis

1.     Plan

You still need a plan no matter what, but this time round, over planning is not allowed. Think of what are the things that you need to know before you start and get a grasp of it. Brain storm for what would be the most painful thing to change and get more information and make a wiser decision. Be sure to know, what are the things that could possibly go wrong and try to prevent them. Be proactive rather than reactive.

2.     Set a Deadline for Your Planning Session

Allocate a deadline for your planning session and be strict with yourself and only spend that certain amount of time for planning. When we have a specific time slot for planning, we will have a lesser tendency to over plan.

3.     Just Start

When you finished your planning session, stop asking yourself “what if” questions. Just start doing it and learn everything that you do not know along the way.

4.     Forgo Perfection

I know there is a Mr (or Ms) Perfection inside you and you want to get everything perfect on the get go but it is highly not possible that everything will turn out the way you want to be in the first place. Just forget about perfection and start taking action.

5.     Momentum

Once you start your project, do not stop and think too much again. Just have a list of to-do items, regardless whether it is big or small and keep on completing the task.

6.     Learn To Make Decision

This is an important skill that can help to overcome analysis paralysis. By knowing how to make a faster and wiser decision, we can take action faster and get more things done. Practice your decision making skills by setting a 5 seconds rule to make your daily decision. (Ex: What beverage am I going to have? Coke or lemon tea.)

7.     Find an Action Taker

Find someone who is able to take action easily. Whenever you are stuck with analysis paralysis, find them and talk to them about your problem. Most likely you will get a positive reply and get the momentum you need to get going.

 

Parting Words

These tips worked fine for me in helping me to take action and also to achieve results. Analysis without action does not help you to have any kind of positive results. Now, you have the tips to help you overcome analysis paralysis, why don’t you go start something that will help to enhance your life today?

Finally, Stop thinking about it and start doing something.

Is Passion Critical to Your Success

Passion is one of those potentially arbitrary words that are difficult to define. Passion, as defined by the dictionary, is “a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.”

Having passion for your business is critical to your success. Why? Without passion and enjoyment for your business you won’t be motivated to make it the best company it can be. Sadly your customers will get very bored of you and what you have to offer.

Without passion and joy for the work that you do, it’ll show in your company’s personality and have a direct effect on your branding. Yes, passion for your business is that important.

So the question is do you have passion for your business? Do you get up most mornings looking forward to your day? If the answer is no, if you’re finding that you’re lacking passion and joy for your business consider a few options.

If there is no passion, you need to make changes…

1. Eliminate the Tasks That Drive You Mad

Make a list of the current work related activities you do enjoy and find pleasure in. Now make a list of the work related tasks you don’t enjoy. The tasks you really despise and procrastinate on and simply don’t do. Looking at your two lists. What can you do to make list number one, the list of activities you do enjoy, more a part of your day? In many cases the answer is simply to outsource the tasks that you dislike.

2. Refresh Your Memory

Think back to why you started your business in the first place. What were your motivations? What were your goals? What was your passion? Write them down and take a look at all that you’ve achieved. If you’re far from your goals, if you’ve yet to achieve them, what can you do to get back on track? Often times, goals can serve to re-motivate and re-excite your passion.

3. Gratitude Helps

Think about all that you have to be grateful for. Make a list. In fact, many business and success coaches recommend creating a gratitude journal and writing in it every day. Remembering all that is good and right in your life can really reinvigorate your passion for your business and your life.

4. Work with Passionate and Motivated People

Being the owner of a small business can be a lonely job. Surround yourself with passionate and motivated people and you’ll not only find it’s contagious, you’ll find that your business success will improve as a direct result.

Mastermind groups, business coaching, networking with enthusiastic and like minded professionals, and even outsourcing with people who are passionate about their business are all excellent ways to become part of a winning team.

5. Integrate

Integrate your current passions into your business. If you’ve found that your passion for your business has simply waned, consider what you do enjoy and brainstorm how you can integrate your current passion into your business.

Passion breeds profits, if your passion is lacking or altogether missing, spend some time finding it. It’s important not only for the success of your business but the happiness of your life.

How else are you managing your passion? I'd like to hear your ideas and other points of view.