The Tribune

By MICHELLE MILLER

HOW does that saying go again, ‘Talk is cheap but money buy land’?

It’s amazing how many people get stuck on the talking station in life. Talking out loud about how they are going to start this or stop that, only to find themselves again at the thresholds of another year’s end, not getting it done.

Considering the loud volume and gusto with which they speak, you’ll think, this time they’re serious. But once again they’re just talking; ending up right where they started with nothing to account for what they did with their time.

Have you ever wondered why people are unable to do what they set out to do? What is it that causes the wind to be knocked out of their sail? Why, despite heavy talk, are people still sitting in situations that don’t promote their elevation?

Well, the answer lies within. Look at the characteristics of those who get things done. I call them the ‘doers’, people who are willing to do whatever it takes to get it done, to fulfil their dreams and goals. ‘Doers’ do while ‘talkers’ talk. A real ‘doer’ possesses a clear awareness of who they are, what they want and why they want it. They are driven to win from within. Knowing what they want, believing in themselves and knowing they have the power to make it happen. Every great discovery is the result of a ‘doer’ at work. They don’t complain and don’t have anything to prove or explain to the naysayers. They let their achievement speak for themselves.

You see ‘doers’ possess that rich quality of personal commitment and they are prepared to go the distance.

On the flip side, ‘talkers’ are typically loud and boisterous folks. They are addicts of negative criticism, often holding strong opinions about what needs to be done. But take a good long look at their personal track record. It’s overgrown with missed opportunities and unfinished projects.

They have a habit of not showing up and or not contributing in any meaningful way; deep inside they are fearful and insecure. Their unwillingness to create a vision and follow through leads to much frustration, which seats them at the table of blaming and complaining.

The sad thing here is ‘talkers’ are comfortable because they are not alone. Since ‘talk is cheap’, the talking station in life is overrun with people sitting comfortably in lamentation, experiencing little change and no growth.

Understand that nobody is born a ‘talker’. It’s a choice people make. You can decide in advance which of these two lanes best serve your life – a ‘doer’ or a ‘talker’.

You must choose for yourself. No matter how to slice it, if you desire to live the life you love, at some point you must leave the crowded shores of talking, dive into the ocean and swim towards doing the life you want. This is a surefire way to live free.

Talking about what you want for your life is all well and good. But if you don’t create a real vision, develop a real plan and take some real action, it’s just talk. Nothing will change and you end up living a small version of what could be an amazing life.

Why not become a ‘doer’? Why not join that minority group of two per cent who get up early and stay up late working on their goals? Why not leave the parking lot of the status quo and get on with building yourself an enriching life?

Statistics show that two per cent of the people in the world own 98 per cent of the wealth. They own the wealth because that’s what ‘doers’ do. They take the risk and invest the personal commitment to see it through.

Leader to leader, another year is sailing on – what have you done with the time that’s already gone? Make today the day that you become a ‘doer’ and commit to doing something better that improves your chances of living the life that you love.

• What do you think?

Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or 429-6770 or by snail mail to PO Box CB-13060; you can also visit www.taketheleadbook.com.

Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach, leadership expert and host of the radio programme “Men & The e-Factor”.