Lesson 24: Intentions and Actions

I read somewhere once a list of things you need to know as an adult, and one of those things said something along the lines of, "As an adult, intentions don't matter. Actions are more important." I cannot come up with enough instances where that holds true. If you've been meaning to do something, what is stopping you from doing it right now? If you are reading this blog, you've got time to do something you've been meaning to do.

It it someone's birthday today, and you haven't said, "Happy birthday" to them yet? Call or text or Facebook the person right now. Or go see them in person. Have you been meaning to work out today? Get up out of your chair and go put on some gym clothes. You're at least one step closer, and once you're done for the day, you're done for the day. Just had a job interview yesterday and didn't mail or email your interviewer a Thank-You letter? Open up your email in a new tab and get to it right now.

As small as these things may be, these actions, left as intentions, could leave you with a disadvantage. So it's your spouse's birthday and even though you had something planned another day, you meant to say "happy birthday" today and forgot? Dog house (especially if your spouse is your wife). You intended to work out today, but you just got too lazy and then you see a picture of your ex on Instagram and he/she has been working out and looks hotter? Damn. And you intended to write a Thank-You letter to your interviewer, but it slipped your mind and you ended up not getting a second interview because your other competitors had the same credentials as you, but did that small extra step? Sucks to lose out on a great opportunity due to something that small. 

Actions shape the perception of a person. A good person can be perceived as not so great because of their actions, even with good intentions. Of course if the series of intentions are consistently not followed up with actions, unfortunately that person is perceived as "a dreamer and not a do-er" or "a bullshitter" or as someone always making empty promises. 

If you've meant to do something big for a long time, like go back to school, start small. If you have to, schedule a time for yourself -- like a couple of hours a week -- to just research colleges, ask questions, figure out your budget, sign up for courses. Eventually you'll just get into the flow of things and before you know it, you'll be done. Going back to Lesson 23, ask yourself, "Will I regret not doing this?" If so, do it, and there isn't a better time than now. Otherwise, you won't want to look back at your life 30 years from now and say, "I meant to go back to school" not have anything to show for it.