How to take the next step

Coaches talk about ‘baby steps’ don’t they? You have this big dream and it feels all overwhelming and you don’t know where to start and the your coach or mentor tells you: break it into baby steps.

Well, it’s true. It’s the combination of individual steps over time that create the change.

Momentum is built through action, and your job is to take the next step.

You probably know this.

So what happens when you don’t know how to take the next step?

For example, because you don’t know what the next step is?

Or because you feel as though you’ve tried everything to change and nothing is working?

Rather than get stuck, just take the next step that you can think of.

There are some days when I don’t know how to expand more into what I want.

Or I can’t figure out how to make ‘that next thing’ work.

Or I feel defeated (usually by some small insignificant thing that feels like a mountain in my head!)

You know - ‘I don’t know what to do and I feel in a funk.’

I ask myself ‘What’s one radical idea you COULD do?’ or ‘What does my intuition say?’ or ‘What is an obvious thing to do?’ or ‘How would the person I admire most in the world approach this?’

This gives you some ideas that MIGHT work. Or might not. But it will give you something to START.

Your next step might be to make a call to a friend who mentioned something that interested you the other day.

Or book an appointment with a coach, a masseuse or a hairstylist.

Or find your CV. And open it.

Or allocate a bank account for your business.

Or ask someone out on a date.

Or ask your boss for a meeting about your next step on the career ladder.

Or ask for the sale.

Or shut down a project that’s failing so you can start the one that feels better.

Or buy something different at the supermarket.

Your goal can be health or work or money or family or intimacy.

Whatever it is, decide on the step and schedule it in. Do the prep.

Then rinse and repeat.

The next best step is whatever you say it will be. And sometimes, whatever you can think of. Take obvious steps if you can’t feel into your intuition or think of anything radical.

If there’s something deeper, blocking you time and time again, consider that your frustration may be caused by trauma. Investigating this with a professional can save you a lot of heartache, wasted hours and feeling confused.

Why do coaches say ‘take the next step?’

Because action provides feedback and this is information, which steers the next choice.

And the next.

It’s not fun doing this alone, so finding likeminded friends, coaches, support groups or other community to do it with can really make the difference.

Above all, get inspired.

Inspire yourself. Seek out your greatest muses.

Have fun! Take steps. Adjust and course correct.

The time is now, and it’s all yours.