Getting started
There are many motivational quotes for “getting started”. At the same time, there are just as many inspirational quotes that focus on the importance of planning. How can you follow both? They are contradicting, as action and planning can’t happen together. No wonder so many people struggle with “getting started”. The truth is you can’t start without knowing how and where.
In business, a project or task may be put off for this reason. There is difficulty in understanding where to begin, or the lack of being able to envision and plan for an outcome. That said not every project or decision is one that should be pursued. A neutral third party is a great way to determine if a potential project is worth your time and money.
Sometimes you are unable to plan, because action is taking the majority of your time. From employees to business owners, we often hear that one is “too busy”. Generally this stems from a lack of prioritization. It is important that business leaders tackle the difficult problems first, as the easier ones will generally solve themselves. Too often are owners and managers spending the majority of their focus on “low hanging fruit”, while not dealing with major systematic issues draining the business of resources and efficiency.
The misconception by many is that their time is free (i.e. $0 cost), but in economics “time” is a limited resource that carries an “opportunity cost”. By hiring a consultant, you are spending a little money upfront to save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
“Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.”