You’ve defined and planned your BIG goal. Now, start doing the things that will take you to it.
The Principle of Action
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” – Henry David Thoreau
You’ve set meaningful goals and crafted a solid plan. That’s an essential first step. But plans alone don’t create change. Action does! Without movement, even the most well-thought-out goals remain just dreams. Action is what turns your vision into reality.
In the Excelerated Life™, the principle of Action bridges the gap between intention and results. Action is more than just being busy; it calls for being effective, following through on commitments, and taking consistent steps toward your goals.
Why Action Matters
Think about someone who has always wanted to write a book, start a business, or get in better shape. That someone may be you. They/You research, plan, and dream, but never take the first step. Without action, progress is impossible.
Action matters because:
- It builds momentum—one small step leads to another.
- It strengthens confidence—the more you do, the more capable you feel.
- It closes the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
- It creates results—goals don’t achieve themselves!
By embracing the Principle of Action, you commit to moving forward, even when it’s uncomfortable or uncertain.
The Three Practices of Excelerated Action™
Three key practices bring Action to life: Excelerated Productivity™, Excelerated Discipline™, and Excelerated Movement™. Let’s explore each one.
Excelerated Productivity™ – Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness. Being busy doesn’t equal being productive. Excelerated Productivity™ helps you do the right things efficiently. It doesn’t require you to cram more into your day, but rather to begin working smarter. The goal is to spend the majority of your time on what truly moves the needle toward your goals.
Excelerated Discipline™ – Doing What You Say You Will Do. Motivation fluctuates, but discipline sustains progress. Excelerated Discipline™ allows you to follow through on commitments, even when you don’t feel like it. Success comes not from occasional bursts of effort but from steady, disciplined action over time.
Excelerated Movement™ – Taking Right Action in Pursuit of Your Goals. Not all actions lead to progress. Excelerated Movement™ ensures that the steps you take are aligned with your ultimate goals. Action isn’t just doing something—it’s doing what truly matters.
Excelerated Productivity™ – Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness
Productivity isn’t just getting more done; it’s getting the right things done in the most effective way. Excelerated Productivity™ helps you optimize your time and energy so that your efforts produce meaningful results.
The Myth of “Being Busy”
Many people mistake busyness for productivity. They fill their days with endless tasks, meetings, and emails, yet make little real progress toward their goals. True productivity comes from focusing on what matters most and eliminating distractions.
Strategies to Boost Excelerated Productivity™:
- Prioritize for impact: Use the 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) to identify the 20% of tasks that generate 80% of your progress.
- Use Deep Work Time Blocks: Set aside distraction-free blocks of time for high-priority work instead of constantly switching between tasks.
- Use systems and automation: Reduce wasted effort by using templates, checklists, and automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks.
- Track your progress: Regularly evaluate what’s working and adjust accordingly. Productivity isn’t static. It evolves with your goals.
Imagine two people training for a marathon. One randomly runs whenever she has time, without tracking distance or pace. The other follows a structured training plan, gradually increasing mileage and adjusting based on performance data. Who do you think will be better prepared on race day?
Excelerated Productivity™ ensures that your actions are intentional, making success inevitable rather than accidental.
Excelerated Discipline™ – Doing What You Say You Will Do
Motivation can get you started, but discipline keeps you going when motivation fades. Practicing Excelerated Discipline™ means you follow through on commitments, especially when it’s hard.
The Power of Self-Trust
Every time you set a goal but don’t follow through, you erode your trust in yourself. On the flip side, keeping even small promises builds confidence and resilience. Discipline doesn’t require perfection, but it does need consistency.
Strategies to Strengthen Excelerated Discipline™:
- Start with small wins: Build momentum by keeping tiny promises to yourself, like making your bed daily or exercising for five minutes. Small wins create a ripple effect.
- Use “If-Then” planning: Anticipate obstacles and create contingency plans (e.g., “If I can’t make it to the gym, then I’ll do a 20-minute home workout”).
- Set clear boundaries: Eliminate distractions by setting work hours, turning off notifications, or saying no to low-value commitments.
- Make it a habit: Structure your environment to support discipline. For example, if you want to read more, place books where you’ll see them daily.
Let’s say, for example, that you want to wake up early but you repeatedly hit snooze. If you set your alarm across the room, you force yourself to physically get up. making it easier to follow through. Small adjustments can significantly improve discipline.
Excelerated Discipline™ doesn’t rely on willpower alone, but helps you design your life so that doing the right thing becomes the default choice.
Excelerated Movement™ – Taking Right Action in Pursuit of Your Goals
It’s easy to fall into the trap of “preparation mode,” preparing to get ready to start to begin to get going and get the ball rolling, spending endless time researching, planning, and analyzing, but never actually doing. Excelerated Movement™ lets you break through analysis paralysis and take aligned, purposeful action.
Why Some People Stay Stuck
Many people delay action because they’re waiting for the “perfect” moment, fearing failure, or feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. The secret? Start before you’re ready.
Strategies to Drive Excelerated Movement™:
- Adopt the “Just Start” mindset: Action leads to clarity. Instead of waiting for confidence, take one small step and let confidence build from progress.
- Break goals into micro-steps: Large goals feel intimidating. Focus on the next step instead of the entire journey.
- Embrace imperfect action: Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. Remind yourself: Done is better than perfect.
- Regularly review and adjust: Your plan will evolve. The key is staying adaptable while keeping forward momentum.
Consider an aspiring entrepreneur who dreams of starting a business. He spends months refining his business plan but never launches. Meanwhile, another entrepreneur starts small—testing her ideas, learning from feedback, and making improvements along the way. Who is more likely to succeed? The one who took action.
Excelerated Movement™ ensures that you don’t just think about your goals. You pursue them with intention and adaptability.
Bringing It All Together
When you apply Productivity, Discipline, and Movement together, you create a powerful cycle:
- Productivity ensures that you focus on the right actions.
- Discipline ensures that you follow through, even when it’s tough.
- Movement ensures that you don’t get stuck in overplanning or hesitation.
By combining these three practices, you not only plan for success, you execute it.
Action! Your Next Step
Now that you understand the Principle of Action, take a moment to reflect:
- Which of these three practices, Productivity, Discipline, or Movement, do you most need to improve?
- What is one small action you can take today to strengthen it?
Remember, the most important thing you can do is begin. No more waiting, no more hesitating. You don’t have to have everything figured out; just start, and momentum will carry you forward. Take action now!
The Excelerated Life™ starts with movement. This is your invitation to step out, not just in thought, but in action. What will you do today to embrace your Excelerated Life™?
Do you have a goal you’ve been thinking about but not acting on?
What small step can you take today to move forward?
Share your ideas by leaving a post below.
Taking Action in pursuit of your goals is the second Framework principle for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™.
This blog post includes research information and suggestions provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. The content was generated with AI assistance and is intended to provide information and guidance. Please note that the suggestions are not official statements from OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website.