When is the right time to start?
In my practice, I often hear people saying: “I can’t start now. Give me until next week, next month, next year.” I must admit, normally people are fairly drained at the end of a year and they do not feel the capacity to start something new now. Nope. We are planning our summer holidays at the coast. Give me a break. I’ll start next year.
The epitome of insanity
This is a typical reaction of the typical person. Nothing wrong with it. But what if you do not want to be the typical person anymore? What if you want to be extraordinary? The reality is that we all have the potential to be extraordinary if we rewire our brain not to think like the typical person. Not to fall into the trap of doing the same-old-same-old just because that’s what we do. Einstein said the epitome of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Learning from Achievers
Richard Branson did not wait until he finished school. Mark Zuckerberg did not say ‘I have to get my degree first before I can attempt to start something.’ And Elon Musk definitely did not wait for better days before he got going. The saying goes that the longer you wait, the less likely you are to jump. The longer you wait the more creative your brain becomes in thinking up all sorts of excuses. I know. It is so much easier to give in to those limiting beliefs than to jump now and think later.
Mel Robbins, American Lawyer turned motivational speaker wrote the book ‘The 5-Second Rule’. She tells the story of how she had to fight depression after their restaurant went bust and came up with the 5-second-rule to trick her brain into not having enough time to think up an excuse to do simple tasks like getting out of bed.
The 3-Second Rule
I must be honest. I think I am a super-achiever because I have tried the 5-second rule and still manage to talk myself out of something. So, I developed the 3-second rule. 3-2-1-Go! It works when you have to get up at 04:20 to be ready to go for a run at 04:40. It works when you need to get out of the bath after an hour of reading. And it works when you have to stop going through your social media and have to start ticking off the things that you have set out to do for the day.
Building Emotional Muscle
The magic part of it all is that the more times you manage to stick to the 3-second rule, the stronger your mind becomes and the more control you gain over your own emotions. That is what the gurus call ‘building emotional muscle.’
How many seconds do you need to make a move? Matt Damon, the leading character in the 2011 movie We bought a Zoo, famously told his son: “all you need is 20-seconds of insane courage” to start something great. We are all different after all. My seconds and your seconds needed will always be different. The only thing staying the same is at some point you have to make a move.
Too busy to fit it in?
A typical answer that I often get is: “I just don’t have the time to do it.” The reality is that we all have 24-hours in the day. Why is it that some people find a way to get things done and others keep on complaining about their lack of time? Usually around a braaivleis fire of while chatting with the moms while watching Johnny practice rugby. If you don’t have enough time, it’s probably time to learn how to put your default diary together.
An Ancient Dilemma
The need to get off your bum is nothing new. Proverbs 24:33 and 34, as originated by King Solomon around 950 BC, is a testimony of this. ‘A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.’
Is Fear Ruling your Life?
What is holding you back from making the jump? Tony Robbins is of the opinion that fear is the biggest obstacle in all of humanity. The fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of success, the fear of the unknown. Sometimes we get so used to sitting comfy in our comfort zone cocoon that we are too scared to leave the nest.
Whatever your excuse is for not making a move, it is costing you and everyone around you dearly.
Atomic Habits
James Clear advocates in his book, Atomic Habits, that you don’t have to make massive moves. One-percent change every day in the right direction will result in exponential growth without making massive sacrifices. A simple way to trick your brain. Just stop making excuses.
What is your leverage?
The biggest question that remains is: “On a scale of 1 to 10. How important is it for you to become the achiever that you want to be?” Is the answer to that question a should or a maybe or a definite ‘I MUST do this, or else?’
When is the right time to change?
How badly do you want to have a seat in the achiever’s row?
The time is now.
