You Are the Value

14 What Are You Going to Act On?

Here’s where you need to take that leap—that risk—and be disciplined and motivated enough to move toward achieving your goals. As I’ve said throughout the book, it’s not an easy process. It’s demanding and challenging, which is what great learning and discovery processes are all about. They force you to think.

Dr. David S. Viscott said it best in his book, Risking: How to Take Chances and Win: “Before you can act, you must believe you need to change.” He spells it out perfectly. “If you cannot take a risk on your own behalf, you are not your own person. You are your biggest problem.”

We’ve talked a lot about going from good to great to extraordinary. To get to your destination, you must act. Before you can act, you must change. You must accept risk. So where do you go from here? Will you be flying, taking a train, renting a car, riding a bike, or taking a leisurely walk? How are you going to move forward?

Many career coaches will tell you that you’re either interested or committed. If you are committed to going from good to great, from great to extraordinary, from extraordinary to the best possible person you’re capable of becoming, then you must schedule time with yourself to work on the most important thing you present to others—you.

It’s like starting the diet, beginning the exercise program or golf lessons, or learning Spanish—it’s the coulda woulda shoulda stuff you’ve always talked about doing. Think about it. You will put yourself through ...