August is a wonderful month for making a “comeback”… for engaging in what we called as kids “a do-over”… and for starting something that you have been putting off this year.
It’s a new day, a new year.“Don’t talk. Just act. Don’t say. Just show. Don’t promise. Just prove!” It’s time to start. No excuses. No more delays. No postponing. It’s time to start!
I’m reminded of a favorite story I heard coming from the late legendary “coach of the century,” Pat Summitt, the Basketball Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee.
Coach Summitt’s 12-year-old son Tyler came home one afternoon with tears in his eyes and sadly told his Mom that he was “cut” from his school basketball team. Confidentially, Coach Summitt was a bit surprised any youth coach in Eastern Tennessee would cut the iconic coach’s son from a team… but she didn’t dwell on that. She did, in fact, turn to her young son and ask, “Tyler… how hard did you practice and work so you could make that team?” Tyler responded, “Mom, I guess I didn’t work that hard… and just thought I’d make it.”
Coach Summitt looked her son squarely in his eyes and said, “Tyler, if you go outside now, work hard, practice hard… and wear the rubber off your basketball… I’m confident you’ll make the team next year.”
Tyler sheepishly looked at his Mom and asked, with tears in his eyes, “Mom, will you help me?”
Profoundly, my dear readers, Coach Summitt replied, “Tyler, I certainly will help you… but son, I will not start your engine!”
The message is clear and simple. It’s up to each and everyone of us to start our own engines. Getting counsel, input, assistance, coaching, advising and help from others is only part of the process. If we don’t start our own engines, the help is for naught.
Here’s a simple process to consider when you’ve made the decision to “start” anything.
Be Realistic
Dreaming, hoping wishing, longing and praying for a quantum leap change and starting on a new (or renewed) path is fine as long as your dreams are realistic and achievable. Be bold but be realistic.
Face The Fear
Fear often accompanies starting something new. We can become fearful of failure or embarassment or making mistakes. Don’t ignore fear. Face it. Accept the fact that we all fail. Failure is not permanent. It can be incredibly useful if you learn from it.
Make the “Start” a Priority
We all have so many things to do or consider doing. Our lists have lists. To start something big and something important, you may have to postpone, complete or cancel out other items on your list. You can’t effectively, aggressively, energetically “start” something new without making it a personal priority.
Set Your Clock
Define how much dedicated time you’ll spend getting started on a new venture (or adventure). If it’s worth starting and doing, then it’s worth a time investment. Time is one of our most valuable commodities. If you’re willing to allocate time to start something, it’s obviously worth doing.
Understand That Starting Is A Process
Accept the fact that there is often research, deep thinking and planning that precedes starting anything. A project or initiative doesn’t start because you’re thinking about doing something. In fact, changing your words from “I’m getting started to do ________” to a more definitive “I’m starting __________” makes great sense and puts you in a positive frame of mind.
Visionary author and speaker Zig Ziglar said, “You don’t have to be great to start. But you have to start to be great.”
We’ve all heard the adage that the most important step on a journey is the first step. Isn’t it time for you to make an irreversible commitment to do, to achieve, to learn, to accomplish something… and take the first step and start… truly start?
Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow…
To restate and paraphrase Coach Summitt’s profound advice, “I certainly will help you… but I will not start your engine.”
In short, the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing and of course, start your engine.
Remember… YOUR BEST IS NEXT. It’s time to start!
Augusta Press columnist and Acworth, GA. resident, Ira Blumenthal, is a business consultant, a best-selling author, a globally reknowned speaker, an educator and a Youth Lacrosse coach. Learn more about Ira and his book, Your Best Is Next, at
www.IraSpeak.com Follow Ira on instagram @irajblumenthal. You can find Ira’s latest book, The Rundown: Safe at Home on Amazon.
