This Month's Mantra: Just Do It.

(Yes, with apologies for using a stupid Nike slogan.)

Sometimes when I’m coaching someone, I want to scream JUST DO IT. 

But I don’t, because that would be rude and likely violate one of the International Coaching Federation’s (ICF) many rules and regulations. 

In these situations, my client is usually trapped in analysis paralysis, and assumes that somewhere out there is enough data and information to help them make THE right and perfect decision. And because I am human–and the stakes in the decision are very low for me–I hear JUST DO IT echoing through my brain. 

Daisy Dog running down the beach.

Once I notice the internal screaming, I can refocus and ask questions that hopefully help my client understand real risk, gut-check their values and goals, tease out fears and worst-case-scenario thinking, and then maybe–just maybe–act.

In other words, I know that telling someone to “just do it” is not really coaching and in high-stakes situations it’s usually pretty bad advice.

When it comes to life’s big decisions, it’s important to understand context and consequences, and not to blindly act. 

But in other cases, people do need to hear those words because they are so stuck and overwhelmed that they aren’t just spinning their wheels, they are actually moving backwards. And despite what the ICF might think, I will in these cases tell my clients to just do something that creates forward momentum. 

If you’re struggling with managing your to-do list and can’t pick an app to help you manage your tasks, just pick one and try and see what happens. (Or, go old-school like I do and use an old-fashioned Google Doc for such things.)

If you’re feeling isolated in your job or profession, reach out to someone in your network for a virtual or IRL coffee and plant the seeds of a relationship. 

If you’re wondering whether you should have taken a different path in life, check out your local community college or public library and sign up for a class on the thing you’re wondering the “what if…” about and figure out if it’s a real passion or not. 

In other words, m-o-v-e. Take that step. Stop wondering. Yes, Just Do It.