Success or Failure - MAC051

Managing A Career

The other day, while browsing Facebook, a quote appeared on my feed that I found very inspiring. "The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action" - Alexander Graham Bell. This week, I want to break down why I find this quote so inspiring.

In general, I consider myself a fairly successful person. But most of that success has come from not being afraid of the results and just TRYING…..or using the language of the quote, taking action.

If you are looking to make progress -- on anything -- you can sit an analyze (very likely over analyze), or you can take action. Even when that effort does not produce the desired results, it still provides learnings and guidance for how to refine your approach and take additional action. Regardless of the results, taking action puts you closer to your goal.

In addition to the aspect of progress, taking action also helps resolve fear. Most fear comes from the unknown. Each time you take action, you become more comfortable and familiar with the situation. This results in eliminating doubt and transitioning the unknown that you fear to the known that you can overcome.

The final reason that taking action should be inspiring is the snowball effect. Taking small action leads to small wins. Small wins helps build confidence and momentum leading to bigger actions and bigger wins. Over time, those early small actions have led to exponentially bigger and bigger success.

To reiterate the quote from Alexander Graham Bell, "The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action." Making progress, removing fear, and exponential momentum all leads to success….because you took action.

If you, like me, find this inspiring, the next question is how can you apply this to your career? I stress in the intro and outro of this podcast that taking control of your career is entirely up to you because no one else will do it for you. And part of taking control is to consider your situation and take action to move your career forward.

In previous episodes, I've covered the Individual Development Plan. If you need a refresher on the IDP, a good place to start is Episodes 036 though 040 where I introduce the IDP and then proceed go through the process of creating one. After following the IDP Process, you should have created an Action Plan. If you find yourself struggling to make progress, find the simplest task in the plan and focus on completing it. Let this small action build to others and clarify the unknown.

In addition to the Action Plan, the IDP includes a Successes section. When you find yourself stuck, reflect on your accomplishments. Remember how completing those actions made you feel. Think about how you may have been unsure before you started the task, but once you took action, it built until you completed it.

If taking on tasks from your Action Plan and reviewing your Successes doesn't inspire you to move forward, seek out a mentor, coach, or trusted leader that can provide the motivation that helps you break through and resume career progress.

When you are ready to take action towards advancing your career, go to ManagingACareer.com and request a free IDP Template. The IDP provides a framework for ensuring that the actions you take are in alignment with your career goals and the difference between career success and career failure is taking action that moves you one step closer to your goals.