You Better Think Twice
Mental action precedes physical action, so supersize it.
Hit the pool this morning—fired and wired with a new plan for the year, the month, and even today. Somewhere around the third lap it hit me, and I almost gagged laughing at myself.
That moment reminded me of something I know but still have to relearn:
mental action always precedes physical action.
And if that’s true, then thinking well isn’t optional—it’s leverage.
What comes first, the chicken or the egg?
Correct answer: neither.
What always comes first is the thought.
“As a man thinketh, so is he.”
So true.
Three birds are sitting on a log. One decides to fly away.
How many birds are left on the log?
Three. Deciding is not the same as taking action.
How did Brian Tracy figure out that every minute of planning saves 3–5 minutes of execution?
Who sang You Better Think Twice? POCO (with a shout-out to Serri).
New Year’s resolutions and annual plans are great at requiring action. But here’s a question I recommend you think about this week before you dive headfirst into those January rocks, resolutions, and “get’er dones”:
Have I measured twice before I cut?
The best action is usually preceded by a better question:
What should I think about before taking action?
In the spirit of measure twice, cut once, John Maxwell in Developing the Leader Within You gives us a laundry list of thought-filled considerations that should precede decisions. These include:
Will the change benefit my followers?
Is the change compatible with the core values of the organization?
Is the action specific and clear?
Are the top 20 percent of potential influencers on board?
Could I test the underlying premise before committing resources to this action?
Do I have all the resources available to insure success?
Is this action reversible?
Is this action the next obvious step?
Is this action benefitting the short term, the long term, or both?
Are the leaders on board?
And the most important question that trumps the others: IS THE TIMING RIGHT?
Adding these second looks may be the best decision you make this week. Your best plans in terms of your thinking may not reflect the reality of changing competition, internal shift, and new information.
Watch the quarterbacks in the playoffs. They all go to the line of scrimmage with well-thought-out plans. Yet see how often they walk up and down the line taking precious time to signal an audible.
Measure twice.
Cut once.
Finish ahead.
Pro356 Tip
If thinking precedes action, then leaders should schedule thinking time the same way they schedule meetings. What doesn’t get time on the calendar rarely gets done well.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
— Luke 14:28
Your best is ahead.
Love POCO and their offshoots—but on second thought, Vince Gill works better 🙂
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