There are so many things that I've wanted to do in life however, be it because of time, money or other commitments I always seem to allow my ambitions, goals and my very purpose for living to be put to one side. My feet seek comfort on the starting block or I just never quite get around finishing the tasks that I've started. "I'll do it tomorrow!" That's something that we can often say however, something always seems to come up that prevents those words from ever materialise into actions. 

It's time to face the facts! My words alone will not get things done and as much as I may sometimes believe I've momentarily acquired God like qualities, truth is... I am but a mere mortal and It's actually going to take quite a bit of good ol'fasion elbow grease to become a man of action. 

Check out these 7 ways that will help both you and I to proactively sculpt out the man within us all who's defined by his actions and not his words. 

Think About The Now 

I've learned that when planning, it's always best to give yourself time and plan in advance. Try planning your day from the night before. Sit in bed and simply jot down a few bullet points that outline what you hope to accomplish the following day. If like me, home life can be quite intense at times why not stay a few minutes longer at work and make a few notes on what you can do to make the next day more productive. Whether you're the perfectionist, procrastinator or even the kind of guy who's always burdened with brilliant ideas (but no time to execute them), by taking a few moments ahead of time to plan and prep your day it allows you to avoid playing catch up and start gaining the freedom you need to take action in the now. 
Remember that Action builds momentum. So... Keep asking yourself "What needs to be done NOW?" Use your plan as your to-do list. Knowing that you have achieved something you set out to do simply means that you are making progress and that's a great place to keep your focus. There are some great apps out there to make this more manageable. 

Don't Let Doubt Distract 

I once had a really bad habit of over thinking, doubting myself and ultimately talking myself out of taking action. My over thinking would lead to procrastination and create a self-made handicap. The truth is that sometime a little doubt every now and then can prevent us from making some really bad decisions however, too much doubt can often stop us from living our lives to the max because it distracts us from being decisive. I've found that when doubt creeps in and we're not quite sure about what decisions to make, it can leave us living in permanent limbo and distracts us from taking that final decisive step. 
Don't let your doubt distract you from the things you know you need to do. Get some momentum and doubt your doubt!! Sounds like adding more doubt but trust me on this one. By doubting your doubts, you help dispel the original doubt you had in the first place and it then allows you to focus on taking action. It's the power of double negatives. 

Be A Contender 

"Hey! At least I started! That's got to count for something right?" I used to say this all the time but the truth is that it's easy to celebrate that fact that we've achieved a small win and taken that first step of action but it's just as important to win the race and not just start it. Be in this to win!! Think of yourself as a real contender and don't just take part in the race. Deliver the results and win. If we aim to get a job done at 'some point' in the day, we automatically leave so much space for distractions and allow other peoples agendas to take priority and throw us off course. Adding your own constraints to a task can turn a mundane job into an athletic competition. Try racing the clock, beating your personal best or challenging a family member, friend or colleague! Taking action doesn't have to be a cold, ruthless, decision. Get the results you want but have fun doing it too. 

Lead From The Front 

We're all leaders. Fact! What I've learnt is that the "HOW" is the most important factor in our leadership. There is always someone watching us and using our actions as an example of how to (or how not to) do a good job. Being a leader is less about telling people what to do and more about leaving a path for others to follow. So if you don't like talking to grumpy people in your house or even your colleagues when you get to work in the morning, be the first to put a smile on their face. When everyone else is overwhelmed with the days challenge, be the first to have the attitude of a problem solver and find the positives. Be the first to congratulate and acknowledge the progress of others and show your team how to look for the best in people. It all helps and builds towards creating a better atmosphere for everyone. 

Make New Mistakes 

The fear of getting things wrong has always had a way of stopping me from leaping forward in the past. Truth is, you and I WILL make mistakes. It's inevitable! In fact you should asked yourself on a daily basis "what mistakes have I made today?" There are lessons to be learned through our mistakes. Don't be over cautious! Make mistakes but make sure that they are always new ones. Mistakes are filled with tons of learning opportunities for us to get stuck into. Dealing with mistakes in a positive way makes us more dynamic, experienced and more confident about taking on new challenges. Remember that it's better to make mistakes than to have never tried. 

Speak To Your Emotions 

On the days when you wake up feeling ready to take on the world, these suggestions are going to seem so easy to follow. In reality these tips are probably a lot more effective when used to overcome those moments when we don't feel like being an active participant of our own life. For many of us, a large proportion of our week is quite repetitive and the significance in each day largely depends on how we feel about it. How we feel about our day can change everything and can be the difference between progress and quitting. Our emotions can be like free spirits that seem to bubble over if we don't control the settings. So, it's important that we take charge of this ship and steer our emotions in the right direction. Make bold declarations, especially when you don't feel like it. "Today WILL be a great day!!!" Make sure your declarations are loud, clear and always verbal. Be positive and tell yourself what you're going to achieve today and lastly, practice smiling and laughing. You'll feel a bit crazy at first, but it really works! Be proactive and shift your emotions in the right direction. 

Actions don't lie 

We become what we repeatedly do. I'm currently in the process of trying to shed a bit of unwanted weight but the fact is that no one will truly be able to tell until the results start to show however, the results will only show if I exercise regularly. You can just tell when someone's been putting the work in because it just shows. You couldn't hide it even if you tried. A friend of mine once said "we all have a six pack but some of us just haven't put the work in to get rid of the fat to reveal it." The same could be said of us as men. We all have the potential to be great in our relationships, in the work we do and in our parenting however, it require us to action some things repeatedly in order to strip back that layer of "fat" that's hiding our true strength. When you do something repeatedly your results will speak for themselves. 

Conclusion 

The reality is that it's very easy to allow ourselves to be dictated to by the every day hustle and bustle of life however, this can and will have a knock on effect and postpone or even negatively impact any future plans and milestones. By compartmentalising your tasks in to manageable bite size goals, affording yourself room to make mistakes and leading from the front, you'll find that with a bit of smart planning and a commitment to achieving results, you'll become a man of action who has a greater impact his life and those around him. Assume it's your job and your moment. Lead, initiate and be a man of ACTION!!!