How I Tricked My Brain Into Taking Action

I have a 36-point checklist that I give to people who are starting a business. This check list is far from complete. It contains the big things. The essential things. And many of the items on the list could have checklists of their own.

So, why the checklist? And why not make it longer so it’s comprehensive? Because most people, when faced with a detailed extensive list will panic, freeze and end up in complete overwhelm, leading to a complete shutdown and lack of action. It’s almost as paralyzing and having no list or direction at all. This checklist is one of the ways I help students trick their brains into taking action.

So, I provide a checklist that is “doable”. It is broken out in several chunks with space between them and is well organized. In fact, I even present it as a 30-day checklist, with one column for each week. Easy peasy. No pressure.

Why? Because when we get to check off more items on the list we feel accomplishment. With that we gain momentum to keep moving. And with movement we see more progress. Action.

What happens when there is no list?

When I was getting ready to write this I was feeling a little blocked. It’s late in the day, I’ve already accomplished a lot and my creativity was waning. So, I pulled out one of my favorite brainstorming tricks. Acronyms!

Without thinking too hard, I look at the word ACTION and associate another word or phase for each letter. Here is my acronym for ACTION that started me thinking about checklists.

A — Act with purpose

C — Create something everyday

T — Tiny steps still create progress

I — Inspiration, look in new and surprising places

O — Open yourself to new ideas

N — Name each action step, you’ll start to recognize how much you do

Getting started on anything is always the hardest part. When starting a business or any other BHAG(big hairy audacious goal) the sheer size of the project is enough to send you back to bed.

However, it might only take one simple purposeful act like an acronym to get you creating something. That tiny bit of progress can inspire you to see new ideas and ways to do things. And when you take time to recognize and name those things you’ll be amazed how quickly you can make some serious progress.

Create strategies like building an acronym can be power ways to trick your brain into action. It’s also really fun, which is the most important hack of all.

If starting a business and creating your ideal life is one of the things on your list that you’ve put off due to overwhelm — I can help. Fall session of my 6 week program 6 Steps To Your Ideal Life & Business kicks off October 7th. See if it’s right for you.

P.S. I give away the 36-Point Checklist in the program

P. P. S. The acronym brainstorming activity is one of many I share in the program. I’m a student of creativity and how the brain learns.