The Importance of "Doing"

Last week I finished presenting "Overcoming Failure to Educate" for a group of business folks. While I'm used to getting positive comments and feedback each time I share this talk, something new happened this time: several people requested a copy of the final quote I offer at the end of the presentation.

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.

-  William Arthur Ward

Now, I have added the bolding both in my presentation and here on the words that represent action to make a point: good ideas and intentions are one thing, but change doesn't happen by itself.  We have to DO.

I know that may seem obvious, but it's funny how often the "do" doesn't get done. Let me give you another example.  Do you remember about 5 years or so ago when "The Secret" became the big runaway best seller?  Everyone was talking about how our intentions drive electrical/cosmic energy so that the forces align to give us what we most desire (hey, isn't that how Captain Jack Sparrow's compass works, too, in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series of movies?).  So, naturally, there were hordes of people sitting in their living rooms, or building their vision boards, and thinking, "Ok...it's gonna come."  But, there's a problem with that. I don't know of anyone who actually had a million dollars drop into their laps simply because they focused a bunch of mental energy on it. True, they may have had to put their attitudes in line with their objectives in order to be prepared for gaining that million dollars, but a massive check didn't just sail into their mailboxes just because they "put it out there!"

 

Here's another example I'm sure many of you can relate to.  Have you ever attended a workshop or a seminar and have gained a TON of new knowledge that you know is going to dramatically affect your business or your life?  You're so full of energy and great intentions during the session...but how many of you actually implement the things you've learned? Then, when things don't change afterwards, you think you've just attended "another worthless class that promised miracles but delivered nothing."

I see this, too, when I give my presentations about how to improve our school systems by looking at the root cause of the problems rather than applying bandaids to the end-symptoms. So many people tell me that these programs are so needed by every school in the country, or they promise to have me come present to their local school board, or they talk about how they can sponsor a school in their area.  But, devil being in the details, it rarely comes to pass -- because only about 20% actually DO. It's natural: we get busy, things happen and we put it off until a better time.  Next thing we know, it's either forgotten or buried under the normal course of life.

So, how do we break that cycle?  Well, again, it's simple, but maybe not easy.  Take a step.  It doesn't have to be the whole enchilada right away. It's like the old saying about how do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!  Do something. If  you have attended a seminar and came away with some great ideas, pick one -- and DO it.  If you have a new cause you want to get involved in, but aren't sure what's involved, well, make a phonecall, send an email. ASK. Take action.

It's all about changing energy and direction. Remember from High School physics that "bodies in motion tend to remain in motion; bodies at rest tend to remain at rest?"  Well, same is true of "change."  Change doesn't occur from inertia. Schools won't change if they continue to do the same things over and over.  You won't become more successful by sitting in your living room and intending it to happen.  You won't grow as a person just by thinking about it. You have to DO.

And, because generally only 20% of people actually DO, if you're in that minority, you'll see things happen in your life that others can only wonder at.

In my case, I point out how everyone is whining and complaining about how bad bullying is in schools, or how uncivil our world has become, or how rude businesses are. I could have been one of the majority of people who talks about it, but instead I decided to DO something about it. And that "DO" has changed my entire life.  Hopefully I've been able to help a few other children and adults change their lives as well. That's the power and purpose of action; to make good things happen. Before the end of the day, I challenge you to find something that can make a positive change in your life or in the lives of others around you...and DO it.  I'd love to hear how that worked out for you!

 

Find out more about "Overcoming Failure to Educate" and how it may change your school or community.