Ever had an idea that you would have really loved to pursue, but never acted on? It’s likely you asked yourself the wrong question.
You think, “Can I do that?”
Just the thought of it overwhelms you. You have no idea what it will take.
You can’t imagine being good enough, smart enough, ready enough—especially when you compare yourself to others.
You take a big gulp. Fear enters the picture, causing your creativity to evaporate. Ultimately, you walk away from that fun, enticing idea.
Don’t sell yourself short. What you really need to do is to change the question. Don’t ask, “Can I do that?”
Instead, ask, “How can I do that?”
“How” is the key. It’s irresistible to your brain, which immediately searches for options you could consider.
You start getting ideas about what you could do, who you could talk to, where you could find resources, and so much more. A plan starts emerging.
For example, when the idea of writing a book first came to me, it felt like an overwhelming project. I couldn’t think clearly about it.
I doubted my ability to pull it off. After all, my worst grade in college was in technical writing.
But I really wanted to write it, so I asked, “How can I turn this idea into a reality?
Here are the steps that slowly evolved:
- I talked with other authors to get their perspective. They were encouraging, and I learned a lot. I felt that if they could do it, I probably could too.
- I found a template. I spent hours analyzing books at B&N to figure out what I really liked and why. I bought my favorite, “How Winners Sell,” then dissected its structure.
- I outlined the Table of Contents, the chapters, and the resources I wanted to include.
- I was now ready to look at how to get it published. I searched for info on writing a proposal.
- I discovered that publishers liked speakers. I hated speaking, so I joined the National Speakers Association and worked on learning a new skill.
- I started writing one chapter at a time and slowly made my way to the end.
- I created a new website that featured my new book and speaking. I spent hours looking at other sites to make sure my new one would be most effective.
When Selling to Big Companies came out, it changed everything for me—in a good way.
I didn’t have a lot of money when this project started. Several years earlier, my consulting business had been decimated due to a recession.
So, I had to bootstrap everything. I bartered my services. I found low-cost alternatives. I spoke for free to get some practice and referrals.
It was a huge undertaking with no assurances that it would pay off. But writing the book was an idea that wouldn’t let go of me.
If I’d asked, “Can I?” I’d have felt too overwhelmed. But by asking, “How can I?” I was able to get started and move forward—one step at a time.
You can do that too. Ready .... set .... go!
