What Stops You from Taking Action?

Real obstacle: "I don't have $5,000 to invest in this business course right now."

Action-blocker: "I need to research 47 different courses to make sure I pick the absolute best one." 

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Real obstacle: "I have two hours a day to work on my business."

Action-blocker: "I don't have enough time to do this perfectly, so I'll wait until my schedule clears up." 

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Real obstacle: "I don't know how to build a website."

Action-blocker: "I need to learn web design, graphic design, copywriting, and photography before I can launch." 

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See the difference? Real obstacles require creative solutions or resource adjustments. Action-blockers require pattern recognition and system changes. 

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The Big 4 Action-Killers (And How They Show Up) 

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After working with many entrepreneurs, I've noticed that most action-paralysis falls into four categories. You probably have one dominant pattern, with a secondary that shows up when you're stressed. 

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1. The Perfectionist Trap 

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This is the "I need to get it right the first time" mindset. Perfectionists spend six months creating the world's most comprehensive course instead of launching a simple workshop and getting feedback. 

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Consider a wellness coach who has spent eight months "perfecting" her signature program. She's rewritten the modules seventeen times, created workbooks that rival college textbooks, and designed graphics that could win awards. But she hasn't enrolled a single client because "it's not quite ready yet." 

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Meanwhile, her competitors with "good enough" programs are helping people and making money. 

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Perfectionist red flags: 

• Constantly tweaking instead of launching 

• Researching competitors obsessively 

• Starting over instead of iterating 

• Waiting for the "right time" that never comes 

 

2. Analysis Paralysis 

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This is the "I need more information before I decide" trap. Analysis paralyzers can tell you the pros and cons of every option but can't pick one and move forward. 

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Picture a photographer who knows she needs better equipment but has spent three months researching cameras. She's read every review, watched every YouTube comparison, and joined four Facebook groups for advice. Her current camera works fine, but she's convinced there's a "perfect" choice out there if she just researches a little more. 

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Plot twist: while she's researching, she's missing bookings because she's not actively marketing. 

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Analysis paralysis red flags: 

• Researching the same topic repeatedly 

• Asking for opinions from everyone except yourself 

• Making pro/con lists that never lead to decisions 

• Feeling overwhelmed by too many "good" options 

 

3. Fear of Judgment 

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This is the "what will people think" spiral. These entrepreneurs know what to do but are paralyzed by imaginary audiences (for me it's everyone I went to high school with) judging their every move. 

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Think about a consultant who has exactly the expertise local businesses need but won't reach out to potential clients. She's convinced that calling or emailing makes her "pushy" or "salesy." She imagines rejection conversations that haven't happened and criticism from imaginary audiences judging their every move. 

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Fear of judgment red flags: 

• Avoiding visible marketing activities 

• Over-preparing for conversations that might never happen 

• Assuming rejection without trying 

• Caring more about strangers' opinions than clients' results 

 

4. Unclear Priorities 

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This is the "everything feels urgent" trap. These entrepreneurs have so many ideas and opportunities that they can't focus on any single one long enough to see results. 

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Imagine someone who wants to launch an online course, start a podcast, write a book, and create a membership site – all at the same time. Every week brings a new "priority" based on whatever business content they consumed most recently. 

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Unclear priorities red flags: 

• Starting multiple projects without finishing any 

• Constantly switching strategies 

• Feeling busy but not productive 

• Chasing shiny objects instead of doubling down on what works 

 

Which one am I? Oh, I've been all four at one time or another, sometimes all together (go directly to burnout). My fave is a combo of perfectionism and fear of judgment. That's enough to keep anyone staring at their phone screen and hiding from work they know they need to do to get ahead. 

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The "Imperfect Action" Framework 

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Here's what actually works: creating systems that make taking action easier than avoiding action. This isn't about willpower or motivation – it's about designing your environment and processes to support forward movement. 

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For Perfectionists: The "Good Enough" Rule 

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Set a completion threshold before you start. "This workshop is done when I have 30 minutes of content that solves one specific problem." Not when it's perfect. When it meets your pre-defined "good enough" criteria. 

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Then launch it, get feedback, and improve version 2.0 based on real data instead of imaginary standards. 

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For Analysis Paralyzers: The "Two Option" Rule

 

When facing a decision, research exactly two viable options. Not seventeen. Two. Give yourself a specific deadline (usually 48-72 hours) to choose between them. 

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Remember: there's no perfect choice, only choices you can execute perfectly. 

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For Fear of Judgment: The "One Person" Rule 

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Instead of imagining crowds of critics, focus on helping one specific person. Write that email thinking about Sarah who told you she's struggling with exactly what you solve. Create that post for David who asked for advice last week.

 

It's hard to worry about judgment when you're focused on helping someone you know. 

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For Unclear Priorities: The "One Thing" Rule 

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Pick one project. Just one. Work on it for 30 days before evaluating anything else. Put blinders on for other opportunities during those 30 days. 

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You can pursue multiple streams of income eventually, but not simultaneously at the start. 

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Your Action-Taking Starter Kit 

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This week, identify your action-blocker pattern. Which of the Big 4 resonates most? That's your starting point.

 

Choose one small action you've been avoiding. Not a major project – something you could complete in 2-3 hours if you just sat down and did it. 

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Apply your specific framework. Perfectionist? Set your "good enough" criteria. Analysis paralyzer? Give yourself 48 hours to decide and move. Fear of judgment? Think of one person who needs this. Unclear priorities? Pick one thing and ignore everything else. 

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Take the action this week. Not next week. Not when you feel ready. This week. 

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Document what happens. Usually, the thing you've been avoiding is way less scary than your brain made it seem. 

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The Truth About Taking Action 

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Action-taking is a skill, not a personality trait. Like any skill, it gets easier with practice. The entrepreneurs who seem to "naturally" take action have simply practiced working through their action-blockers more often. 

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Every time you identify what's really stopping you and take action anyway, you're building your action-taking muscle. Every time you choose progress over perfection, you're proving to yourself that imperfect action beats perfect inaction every single time. 

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Your business isn't built on the actions you'll take someday when conditions are perfect. It's built on the imperfect actions you take today with the resources, knowledge, and courage you have right now. 

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What action have you been putting off? It's time to stop researching, stop planning, and stop preparing. 

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It's time to do the thing.