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Dear WAHFAQ,
I’ve been wanting to start my own business for several years, but I’m a bit overwhelmed at everything that needs to be done. I’ve taken a few entrepreneurship classes through my local college, and have been reading a lot of blogs online, not to mention going through a ton of podcasts, and I just feel like there is too much to know. I’m afraid of making a mistake, but I really want to do this!
Many years ago, I was in an acting for film class held by a casting agency in Seattle. For introductions, we went around the room talking about our experience in the industry. One woman really stood out. She listed at least 15 classes and seminars she had attended, books that she had read, home-study courses she enrolled in, and had an extensive background in dance and theatre going back to her childhood.
The instructor of the class asked her how many auditions she went on. The woman sheepishly replied, “none.”
While the students held back a collective gasp, the instructor didn’t seem surprised at all. But that moment really stuck with me…At some point, all of the information that you’ve gathered becomes useless until you actually put it in action.
I read, a LOT…books, articles, websites, you name it. I go to networking events, small business seminars, attend webinars and classes that result in me taking a lot of notes to file away for later. You should see my computer files: they’re really impressive. I listen to audio books and podcasts in my car, and during my morning run, after all it’s like a university education in my spare time.
But in reality, we read too many books. We attend too many seminars and classes. We play too many podcasts: motivational, educational, or otherwise. It’s time to stop it.
All of that information is completely useless if you don’t put it into action. “Learning” is not listening, reading, or attending classes. Learning is not passive. True learning is taking what you have heard, and implementing it into our lives. Once implementation has occurred, you can then tweak it to bring you success.
Learning is about growing…changing your ideas and beliefs…taking in the world around you and figuring out how to adapt to the new knowledge you have.
You can attend all of the workshops and seminars that you want, but if you don’t actually “audition” for whatever role you’re looking for, how will you know if it suits you? How will you know how to adapt? How will you grow and be better for next time?
What are you looking for: Do you want to start your own business? Lose weight? Have better relationships? Be a better parent? OK, then, go get a little bit of guidance and then put that to action. Don’t get yourself stuck in “analysis paralysis.”
True learning and true success comes from implementation…not research.
Stop reading. Stop researching. Stop gathering information, just pick one path, one small thing to get started, and start DOING it!
Think about all the extra money you could make by being a mystery shopper, starting your own business, or working from home for a legitimate company. Take control of your income and check out our LEARN page for a list of classes, books, and more!
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