How Action-Bias can Drive Success in Your Business
Many of you who've been around for a while may know that I began learning pottery in mid-2020. My passion for the craft grew so rapidly that by mid-2021, I had already set up an online store to sell my work. I understand that some of you might think I didn't spend enough time mastering my skills before launching my business, and perhaps you're right.
Going from knowing nothing about pottery to selling my work in such a short time is indeed unusual. But then again, 2020-21 were extraordinary times. Maybe it was a stroke of luck, or maybe it was something more. Reflecting on the past 3-4 years, I realize that while I was competent, I wasn't exceptionally skilled at pottery (I was still learning, after all). I knew nothing about setting up or running a creative business, I wasn't smarter or more hardworking than anyone else. At best, I was average in most aspects. However, what really helped was my persistence and bias towards action.
It's not enough to have an intention of changing, you have to act on that intention for things to get better- not just once, but consistently.
--- The 12 Week Year
In my opinion, having a desire to change, to start something new, is the first step, but without action, that desire remains just a wish. You need to take deliberate, consistent actions to bring about the change you seek.
I have a genuine love for learning—whether it's discovering new techniques or finding innovative ways to do things. At the beginning of my journey, I enrolled in courses on creative entrepreneurship, online marketing, and other relevant subjects. As I progressed through these courses, I actively applied the lessons to my business.Some strategies worked and propelled me forward, while others didn't, but at least I learned where not to waste my time and effort.
You can absorb all the knowledge you want, but unless you put it into practice, it doesn't truly help. Especially at the beginning of your journey, having a bias towards action is crucial. Instead of overthinking and overanalyzing, act on your plan. You can make numerous assumptions about the potential success or failure of your plan, but you'll never know for sure until you actually try it. I assure you, you will experience failures along the way, and that's perfectly fine. It's better to discover that something doesn't work rather than continue under a false sense of security. I also promise that you will find success! Even in your failures, there will be valuable lessons that contribute to your growth.
Be scrappy—Focus on getting things done, rather than overthinking and waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect platform, the perfect piece, the perfect color, the perfect logo. Perfectionism is one of the biggest reasons for procrastination and can prevent you from doing what you really need to do to grow.
In your pursuit for perfection, you can become paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes or not meeting impossibly high standards. This can lead to endless delays and missed opportunities. Instead of waiting for everything to be flawless, embrace a mindset of action. Understand that progress often comes from taking imperfect steps forward and learning along the way.
In the end, prioritize movement and momentum over perfection. This encourages you to take risks, experiment, and iterate quickly. Each action, no matter how small or imperfect, brings you closer to your goals.
Remember, the path to growth is rarely linear or perfect. It's filled with trial and error, learning and adjusting. By focusing on action and staying scrappy, you can overcome the inertia of perfectionism, make tangible progress, and ultimately achieve more than you ever would by waiting for the perfect conditions.
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