“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford
It took me over 15 years to start writing. I talked myself out of it thousands of times. I would tell myself, “I don’t“:
- have enough time
- know enough information
- have enough content
- know the process for publication
- have a platform large enough to sell any books
- know grammar or spelling well enough
I look over the last few months of blogging, and I can see that once I decided “I will“, then the “I don’t” began shifting to “I didn’t“. I still have a lot to learn, and I am okay with that. Pretty soon, I will look back and say:
“I don’t” became “I didn’t” and “I will” became “I did”
The truth is, I could:
- adjust my schedule to make time
- read more books, listen to podcasts, go to conferences
- write about what I do know, and write more as I learn more
- study the process for publication, talk to other authors
- expand my platform by putting myself out there for others to see
- review language, writing, and spelling classes, and have others proofread before publication
The shift from “I don’t” to “I did” is like the remote control. I can see it across the room, but I have to move to get it.
My first 5k “run” was about 6 years ago. I had never ran more than a mile on purpose before then. Since then, I have “run” two other 5k’s. Each took me between 45-50 minutes.
This year I signed up for a half-marathon. This wasn’t on my bucket list. I am not a “passionate runner”. I ride BMX bicycles and do tricks for fun (more on this on my Wednesday blog).
I am doing this half-marathon for a cause – raise $3,000 to give clean water to communities in Africa. Learn more and/or help support me by clicking here.
When I look back to the day I said “yes” to the the half-marathon, I remember telling myself, “I don’t”:
- have the skill or the time
- have the resources
- have the discipline to exercise for that type of run
- have the capacity to run that long or that far
- know what to expect
In October, I will look back and say:
I didn’t. I did.
Each Sunday we have been talking about weekly planning. Today, I encourage you to think about the “I don’t” that keeps you from making meaningful progress towards a goal you want to achieve.
“I don’t” will not become “I didn’t” until “I will” becomes “I did”.
COMMENT: What is one action (“I will”) you can take to change your “I don’t” to “I didn’t”?
rious. He stared intently at his cup. His eyes glazed over with hopelessness and confusion. “David, what is my calling? What is my purpose? What does my future look like?” He wanted direction. He looked at me as if somehow I could point him in the right direction.