Many of us, me included, suffer the curse of complexity. We struggle to get started or progress with something because we just don’t know what to do. I often say that I need to know all the parts of the puzzle before I can get started. However, the truth is this belief has and often does hold me back. The other reality is that it isn’t even true. In this article I will go through the three key steps I take to stop myself getting in my own way …
Learn from Others
As much as I say my need to gather information has held me back it has also worked to my advantage. I am not very gung ho and I rarely just jump and let the universe take care of the rest. No, I am not really that type of girl. Instead, I like to ask questions, research, learn from others, and work through the various scenarios.
The reality is that nothing is that complicated. It can all be figured out and often I find when something still feels complicated I just haven’t found the right person to communicate it in a way I can understand. That then becomes my mission.
I remember joining Bloomberg Television and being thrown into the world of financial reporting and it was a very steep learning curve, but when I stuck with it I started to make progress. In fact, I remember being so overwhelmed at the start that I bought a book on financial markets that was designed for teenagers, and it was so useful. I knew I had to start at a basic level before I could add layers on top. But no matter how complicated something may first appear; it just needs to be broken down.
Take Action
This is where many of us get stuck. There is a place for doing your research, but there is also a point where you need to take action. If you procrastinate then this is often the place you get stuck. And if you are anything like me and need to know how it all fits together then you can also get stuck. Ironically, I remember studying courses on property investment and doing a lot of research. However, when I actually got onto the property buy to let ladder and into my first refurbishment and renting to my first tenant etc I realised there is so much I didn’t know, and so much I had to learn as I went. In my trainings I try to pass on as much information as possible as I am a firm believer in learning from others, however, there is no substitute for taking action. You cannot solve every problem but you can develop a tool box.
Review
That’s where the third and final step comes into play; review what you’ve done and learnt and see if there are tweaks that need to be made. When you start on a path you will often have very different ideas to when you are part way down that path. Even at a very basic level you will have grown and changed as you progressed.
So it is critical to look back and asses. Think of it like a puzzle. I like to see all the pieces and the picture I am building, ideally with the pieces laid out. But sometimes you just have the picture, or part of the picture and that is all you have to work off. Do it, don’t wait for the entire picture and all the instructions, they may never come.
Look for the systems, i.e. put all the edges to one side. If you have somebody working with you use their skills and knowledge to develop your strategy. And then look at it. When you put a jigsaw together you are always looking down and comparing it to the box. Life and your goals are no different.
Don’t allow yourself to get stuck. Life is too short and your goals, whatever they may be, are too valuable. If you are getting stuck check out my website for some complimentary resources (www.kellylemon.com) – that is where the picture and the steps are. And if you want somebody to help you with your jigsaw then feel free to book a complimentary call.
Whatever you do, don’t think it’s too hard to figure out – there is always a way.
Kelly Lemon
