Sometimes I hate blogging.
Sometimes I hate meetings.
Sometimes I hate talking.
Why?
It’s too easy to hide behind ideas and not actually do something.
You and I could could have the greatest conversations in conversational history and not actually do anything with our lives.
We do a lot of talking and not enough doing.
- The best bloggers live what they write.
- The best meetings result in clearly defined action.
- The best day is a day filled with opportunity and risk.
- The best conversations are about the dreams we are living today.
Do you know what I fear?
I fear standing before God with a handful of ideas that I never acted on. Talents that I wasted. Opportunity squandered because I was too busy talking about it.
I don’t want to hand them back and say, “I was too busy thinking about these. I was too scared to risk my reputation. Fear of failure got the best of me. Sorry God.”
Will you be known for your ideas or for your action?
Ideas are plentiful. Action is rare.
Finding someone to criticize, complain, and even develop ideas is common.
Think about all the hit records that were never released because someone was scared.
Think about the innovative blogs and books that were never written because someone isn’t an “author”.
Think about all the people that want to change the world but are waiting for the opportunity.
The rare bird is the one who seizes opportunity, takes it by force, and sees projects to completion.
Don’t just camp out on the sidelines criticizing everyone else’s action. Do something.
Ideas are sexy. Action is work.
Ideas are important. Without ideas we’d have nothing to act on. But it can’t stop there. You must do them…for God, for you, for us. We are waiting.
Another reason I blog everyday is to have a bias toward action.
Sometimes I really don’t feel like writing.
Sometimes I don’t have much to say.
I write everyday because if I didn’t I’d probably stop writing entirely. Small compromises would drain me.
Daily accountability reminds me that I’m capable of more than I realize.
So What Are You Going To Do?
I’m happy you have a hit song idea…where’s the song?
I’m thrilled you have business plans…how are you implementing them?
That’s awesome you want to “do great things”…what have you done today?
Greatness starts by the choices you make today. All you have is today. All you have is the moment in front of you.
How are you seizing it?
Question: what is an idea you are acting on or need to act on today? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. My favorite line is “Ideas are Sexy, Action is Work”–it’s so easy to sit around and come up with great ideas. It’s the implementation of those ideas that gets anything done.
Now, strategy and vision have their place, but if those ideas don’t get turned into action, then we accomplish nothing.
Thanks! Great writing, and well said.
Thanks Dave. What do you think is the best way to make strategy and vision happen? It can be tough to just get going, you know?
trying to be as transparent as possible here:
i am being faced with challenges that are stretching me and growing me and will have implications on the next season of life for me, my family, and ministry. Some involve a couple of big ideas that God has given me.
Praying I can act on them when I it’s right.
That’s awesome, Chris. What are you most scared about?
Honestly, I think I am most scared about following my own desires, running after a dream job, as opposed to staying in step with God.
Execution of ideas is the only thing that matters. Great post!
Ahhhh…yes…the “actions” post….Love it!
I admit…i’m a big “ideas” person…when it comes to my life…i tend to act out on them…but not as quickly as i’d like (hence the song i sent you. lol)
And idea that i’m acting on now?….mmmm….
I’ve been experimenting on drum kit sounds on logic for our record…i got a lot of ideas on it…but need to find the time to browse and choose where I want a certain sound in a certain place in the song….i started it this past monday….hopefully i can continue this weekend…
Hopefully. LOL….
Nice! Are you not using live drums?
Of Course!!!! i’ve having different layers of drums…
I was a drummer before I picked up the guitar…so it’s in my blood! lol…
heavy percussion….bongos…dijimbe..African drums…a whole lotta shakers…and what have you…
it’s really fun! lol…
I have two that I’m acting on.
From a personal standpoint my eBook is almost complete. I thought it was gonna be done 3 weeks ago but I put it off. Almost ready now.
From a ministry standpoint, we are going to be launching a Saturday Night worship service. (Something that is not offered in my town by anyone)
I’m working on an ebook as well. It’s not easy work! Can you leak any details about it? Excited to read it.
Adding a Saturday night service was a great change for us. It took some time to gather momentum but now it’s one of our larger services.
The book is called I Think I Suck. Dealing with insecurities.
It seems to be taking some time building momentum for us too. But we are a small town. And a very traditional town. Our church isn’t that way, so it takes a little longer for things to catch on.
Sounds amazing. Looking forward to it.
“Ideas are sexy. Action is work.”
You could’ve written this and clicked Publish. I don’t want to even think about the many great ideas I’ve had that didn’t come to fruition because of my lack of initiative.
I recently started an “Idea Bank” that has worked well for me the last few months. When I get a good idea, I immediately post it in Evernote so I can refer back to it later. Then it just comes down to scheduling time to expound on it and make it a reality.
Great post, David. I hope it challenges everyone who reads it to stop talking and start doing.
This resonates with me because I have way too much trouble finishing. I’m thankful that right now I have ideas flooding my mind constantly. The problem is that if I don’t act on those ideas or flesh them out completely, they are meaningless. They don’t benefit me or anyone around me.
Right now I’m in a season of my life where time is precious. I’m about to get married and I’m pouring my life into the foundation of this relationship. Free time is not what it used to be so I really have to be purposeful in how I use it.
Thanks for the push today, dude.
I think there’s an ebb & flow to the creative life. Right now the best thing you can do is invest in your fiancee, you know? That may mean less time to create but you’re doing what’s best.
Great words. I’m going to record that demo I’ve wanted to get done this weekend, and you really gave me the courage to do it. Thanks!
This weekend! That’s awesome, Jim. Let us know the details when it’s finished.
Great post… I could think and talk about this all day long… 😉
“I fear standing before God with a handful of ideas that I never acted on. Talents that I wasted. Opportunity squandered because I was too busy talking about it.” – too good
It is hard to act… especially with the same intensity that you give to your ideas. For some reason we give this sigh of relief a sigh of completion when the idea is finished. We look back and say “how awesome is that idea,” as it fades away never to be completed.
Sometimes I get tired of hearing myself think up all the stuff I want to be doing in between or while I am doing something else, and then when I am able to get doing stuff, forgetting or neglecting to sort out or do what is was I was thinking about.
Sometimes I just say “stop” and start getting something done right where I let go of the handle. Amazing how good it feels to get the laundry folded or the kitchen tidy before next day, especially when you have half done it the days before. Fancy plans and ideals are fun to envision in the mind(this is one kind of emotion or hope), but work in action brings peace and a place to put even more practical and relevant ideas into action(this is hope realized and peace in the realization of accomplishment) Small things amaze me, and He never stops finding something for me to attend to in each moment. And He pays attention to whether I am paying attention or not.