Stub Your Toe

As another year dawns bright with promise and opportunity many leaders will be setting personal and company goals, including the numerous inane resolutions we annually promise to keep. Losing weight, exercising more, and lowering stress often top these lists. I confess to sometimes succumbing to this ritual, often with mixed results, although exercising daily has been one of my few success stories.

I’m not sure why some persons manage to conquer their fears and overcome obstacles to achieve their objectives while others never get beyond the task of creating a list. Perhaps one secret is the simple act of doing something instead of just talking about it. I know a colleague who this past year wanted to become more proficient as a public speaker and so he joined a local Toastmasters group. His willingness to take action, in spite of any fears, resulted in new friendships, fresh skills, and greater self-confidence.

Procrastination is a death knell for many of our fondest dreams and wishes. If we wait until we are older, better prepared, or more organized it is unlikely we will ever begin the process. Too many leaders think the future will somehow materialize without the need to get their hands dirty. If one has an aversion to failure, or desires a high degree of certainty in the outcome, then you may as well never make a New Year’s resolution or set a significant goal.

Within each of us are hopes and dreams that require more than good intentions if they are ever to be attained. Inventor, Charles F. Kettering, held more than 300 patents in his lifetime, including the electric self-starter for automobiles. He is quoted as saying, “You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.” Like all inventors he was a man of action who overcame any fears of failure. Along the way I’m sure his toes were bruised and bloodied.

The new year could be the chance you’ve been waiting for as a leader. Instead of crafting a list of lofty goals why don’t you simply choose one item and then do it, regardless of the fears or risks it might represent. If you stub your toe in the process consider it a reminder that, unlike so many others, you are actually going somewhere in 2012. Bandaids anyone?