Elusive Action

Success doesn’t come from wanting or even knowing. It comes from doing. And doing requires courage. The courage to step away from comfort, and into uncertainty.

The Disease of Inaction

The world is filled with people who say they want more. More wealth. More impact. More meaning. But most are unwilling to do what it takes to achieve it. They dream of success, yet cling to the habits, systems, and mindsets that have kept them where they are.

For over three decades, I’ve worked with leaders, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. Many had the potential for greatness. Some realized it. Most did not. The difference wasn’t intelligence or resources. It wasn’t connections or timing.

It was the willingness to act.

This isn’t about the mechanics of success. It’s about the soul of it. The relentless drive to take the first step, and the courage to keep moving even when the path is uncertain.

The Gap Between Knowing and Doing

Every journey begins with recognition. You know something isn’t working. You know something must change. But knowledge alone is inert. It’s potential energy, waiting for a spark to set it in motion.

The problem is that most people live in the space between knowing and doing. They talk about their challenges, complain about their circumstances, and dream about their goals. Yet, they do nothing.

Why?

• Fear: The fear of failure, ridicule, or even success.
• Comfort: The familiar, even when painful, is easier than the unknown.
• Overwhelm: The enormity of the task can make even the first step feel impossible.

This gap isn’t just a barrier, it’s a chasm. And crossing it requires something many lack: courage.

The Three Pillars of Transformation

In my work, I’ve distilled change into three essential actions. They are simple, but not easy.,

1. Ask

The first step is admitting you can’t do it alone. This requires humility—a recognition that someone else has knowledge, experience, or perspective you lack.

Too often, pride gets in the way. We fear being seen as weak or incapable. But the truth is this: every great achievement was built on a foundation of collaboration.

When you ask for help, you aren’t admitting failure. You’re demonstrating strength.

2. Listen

Listening is not passive. It’s an act of deep engagement. It requires silencing your inner voice, your defences, and your need to control the narrative.

Most people listen to respond, not to understand. They hear advice and immediately dismiss it, rationalizing their current approach.

True listening means being open to the idea that you might be wrong, and that someone else might have the key to unlock your potential.

3. Act

Here lies the hardest step. Action.

Action is terrifying because it exposes you to risk. It forces you to put your dreams, ideas, and strategies into the real world, where they might fail.

But action is also where transformation lives. Even imperfect action is better than perfection stuck in your head. When you act, you create momentum. And momentum, no matter how small, can carry you forward.

The Cost of Inaction

Let me tell you a story about a client. Let’s call him Chad. Because his name is Chad.

Chad is the quintessential image of success in his community, wealthy, influential, and admired. But behind closed doors, his business was crumbling. The bank owned nearly everything. His systems were outdated, his leadership stagnant, and his margins razor-thin.

Chad asked for my help. I poured my heart into creating a detailed plan for him: restructuring his operations, leveraging his assets, and building a path to sustainable growth. It was clear, actionable, and designed specifically for him.

I did the work, because I want to help… I see what he could be, what his business could be. I do the work. I want the next step. And the next. And the next. I am always waiting, driving, desperate to be ready, so I can take the next step.

But he did nothing. He didn’t read the plan. He didn’t follow the steps. He stayed where he was. Chose, to do nothing to change his reality.

A year later, I saw him again. Same struggles. Same complaints. Same excuses.

This is the cost of inaction: the slow erosion of potential into regret.

Why Most People Don’t Change

Change is hard. It forces you to confront uncomfortable truths about yourself, your business, and your life. It demands sacrifice, of old habits, old beliefs, and sometimes old relationships.

Most people would rather cling to the illusion of stability than face the reality of what’s holding them back. They talk, but they don’t act. They plan, but they don’t execute.

But here’s the truth: nothing changes unless you do.

The Call to Courage

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the willingness to move forward despite it.

If you want something different, better health, stronger relationships, greater success, you must step into the discomfort of change. You must:

• Ask for help.
• Listen to advice.
• Act with intention.

It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.

Actionable Takeaways

1. Audit Your Inaction: Identify one area of your life or business where you’ve been stuck. What’s holding you back?
2. Reach Out Today: Ask for help, whether it’s from a mentor, a colleague, or a coach.
3. Take One Step: It doesn’t have to be big. Just do something today that moves you closer to your goal.

What would your life look like if you had the courage to act? What if, instead of waiting for the perfect moment, you created it?

The gap between where you are and where you want to be isn’t measured in miles. It’s measured in decisions.

What will you decide today?

If you’re ready to close the gap between knowing and doing, let’s talk. Send me an email at ben@proconsul.ca, or subscribe for more insights on building a life and business of action.

Your future is waiting. Will you take the first step?

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Thanks!

B

Ideas are abundant. Knowledge is everywhere.

Action is extraordinary. It’s the bridge between potential and reality, the force that turns dreams into results.

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start doing. The rarest skill is within reach, if you choose it.

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