What moves you into action and keeps you there?

At a workshop I was attending, the leader posed this question:

What moves you into action and keeps you there?

It was a different question than expected because we had been talking about strategy. Strategy brings planning to mind. Not acting. Or at least, that's what we were thinking.

The truth is that if we don't account for the answer to that question when formulating our strategy, we aren't setting ourselves up for success. Knowing what we want to do is great. However, knowing what will spark engagement and get it done is what makes the difference.

Everyone has a method that works best for them for getting things done.

For some, it is critical to have a plan detailing each step they will take. This approach keeps them on course and in action.

For others, a basic outline serves as a guide without the detail. This alternative allows them to stay on course but provides some space to explore with the added benefit of guideposts along the way. 

And, finally, we have those free-spirited folks that just like to wing their way through. 

But as C. S. Lewis so perfectly stated, "With the possible exception of the equator, everything begins somewhere."

As a writer, I tend to move within all three approaches depending upon what I'm writing and how developed my idea is at the onset. A bit like life.

What is clear is that, as C. S. Lewis reminded us, everything starts somewhere. No matter what we're doing. It can also be helpful to know where we're headed and why we're embarking on the journey.

When we begin with the end in mind, we can be confident that we won't neglect anything essential to the desired outcome. Think about building a house. You know you're going to have different rooms, each fulfilling specific functions.

Because of their varying functions, there is a need to map out where the plumbing will be, where the electrical needs routed, where windows and doors will be necessary, and so on.

We, too, begin with the end in mind by having a plan just as the builder uses the architect's blueprint. That blueprint can be just an outline of the footprint of the building, or it can be elaborately drawn right down to where the furniture will be placed.

In our lives, we serve as both architect and builder. How much to plan and how much room to leave for creativity remains a matter of preference for style and method. So, what approach will move you into action and keep you there?

A line from Lewis Carroll's classic tale "Alice in Wonderland" has often come to mind for me when thinking about how to best balance the two. There is a beginning and an end. What is between is the journey. So here it is in his words:

"The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. 'Where shall I begin, please, your Majesty?' he asked. 'Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop."

Plan as much as you need to, and then begin. And keep going until you've finished.

Relish being the inspired creator you are. Then celebrate!