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PAPER NAPKIN WISDOM GROWTH HUB
Take Action
The best Paper Napkin Wisdom conversations on take action, chosen and in order.
Procrastination in capable people rarely looks lazy. It looks like perfectionism, more research or waiting for a better moment. Andy Fine, founder of the suit company Sartoro, has a rule. You can usually get something 95% as good at about half the effort. Jim Palmer's napkin is the title of his fifth book. Stop waiting for it to get easier.
John Henry defaults to action. The longer something takes, the more excuses you collect. Brian Kight calls it discipline over default, every day. Shep Hyken changed one word in an old line. Those that do, do, and those that don't, won't. Peter Shankman asks why not. If the worst case isn't death, jail or deportation, try it.
My own napkin here is make it bad, then make it better, but make it. In a recent Edge of the Napkin episode I wonder if the trouble sits one step earlier. Sometimes action is missing because of where you are before you begin.
“The hardest thing in the world to do is to execute the simplest things with discipline.”
Brian Kight, Episode 148
Start here: the top 10
1
How to Stop Waiting for Perfect: Make It Bad, Then Make It Better
Episode 128 · Rob Simons
Make it bad, then make it better, but make it.
2
Why 95% Is Good Enough: Andy Fine on Beating Founder Perfectionism
Episode 220 · Andy Fine
Andy Fine: 95% is good enough; beating founder perfectionism.
3
Stop Waiting for It to Get Easier: Jim Palmer on Deciding Faster
Episode 168 · Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer: stop waiting for it to get easier; perfectionism and indecision.
4
Make Action Your Default: John Henry on Building Momentum
Episode 155 · John Henry
John Henry: make action your default.
5
Why Capable People Stall Right Before They Start
Episode 404 · Edge of the Napkin
Why capable people stall right before they start.
6
Make It Bad, Make It Better: How to Start When Obstacles Pile Up
Episode 286 · Edge of the Napkin
Starting when obstacles pile up: ship the rough first version.
7
Why Some Founders Execute and Others Won't: Shep Hyken on Doing
Episode 127 · Shep Hyken
Shep Hyken: those that do, do; why some founders execute and others won't.
8
Discipline Over Default: Brian Kight on Doing the Simple Things
Episode 148 · Brian Kight
Brian Kight: discipline over default, every day.
9
How to Get Unstuck: Jason Womack on Direction and Momentum
Episode 123 · Jason Womack
Jason Womack: how to get unstuck and regain momentum.
10
Stop Overthinking and Ask Why Not: Peter Shankman on ADHD
Episode 147 · Peter Shankman
Peter Shankman: stop overthinking and ask why not.
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