I’ve had goals and plans on my mind for the last few weeks. Now I’m at the point of trying to figure out the difference between the two, or if they’re both the same thing disguised at something different. Jeff Goins has me thinking more about this.

Last week I blogged about excuses we make for not following our dreams or pursuing our goals. We make excuses because we’re really too afraid to pursue what we want. There are too many risks. We’re not good enough. Blah. Blah. Blah.
Name one thing you are considering doing. Are you planning to go back to school? Do you want to start that new business you’ve always dreamed of? What about moving to that new city away from your friends and family?
I’ve been reading The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris and in the book are some great questions to get you going on pursuing that something you’ve always wanted to do. Filling out these questions will help you to eliminate all the excuses you’ve got up your sleeve.

Ferris recommends spending a few minutes on each answer and keep writing. Don’t stop to think about what you want or need to write. Just write. 

1. Define your nightmare, the absolute worst that could happen if you did what you are considering. What are the fears and “what-ifs?” Will there be a permanent impact?
2. What steps could you take to repair the damage or get things back on the upswing, even if temporarily? How can you get things back under control?
3. What are the outcomes and benefits, both temporary and permanent, of more probable scenarios? You’ve written out your worst nightmare by now. What are the more positive outcomes that could come from your decision?
4. If you were fired from your job today, what would you do to get things under financial control? Think of this scenario at its worst and then review questions 1-3.
5. What are you putting off out of fear? Are any of these five excuses filling your thoughts?  Ferris says the thing we fear the worst is usually what we need to do the most. “Resolve to do one thing every day that you fear.”
6. What is it costing you financally, emotionally, and physically to postone action? Really think about this. Go beyond the financial thoughts. If you don’t start pursuing things today, what will it cost you next year? Five years?
7. What are you waiting for? Still afraid? Then do it afraid. 

It’s time to take action.
It was time yesterday. 
Again, I ask, what are you waiting for?
Join the conversation: What do you want to pursue? What’s holding you back? Which of the above questions was the hardest to answer? Comment below…

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