You’re ready to make changes but somehow it does not seem to be happening. This current podcast episode will help to get you motivated to jump start your effort into actions.
Doing workshops I have been struck by people who attend and are encouraged and motivated to take things to the next level. My gaze is leveled now at those people who attend and are motivated, but change nothing.
I am reminded of a quote from Bruce Lee “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing 
is not enough we must do. We continually say “I know that” but our conviction seems to stop there. True conviction is starting out on a journey, sometimes not knowing where that trail will lead, and putting one foot in front of the other despite being battered and saying you will keep moving until you reach a point that is satisfactory in terms of where you want to be.
That brings to mind another Bruce Lee quote that reaffirms the need to just start moving and make adjustments along the way: “A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves as simply something to aim at.” This quote is significant in that once you start, that movement begins to bring things into focus and your vision becomes more refined.
All of this came to mind as I had lunch recently with a friend and offered her encouragement during a difficult time. I mentioned something I witnessed and always come back to when I am having doubts or feel unsure. I described watching an 8 man rowing competition during the Summer Olympics several years ago and listening to the coxswain (rhythm keeper) describe how he motivated the winning team during a period in the race when they were behind.
The job is vitally important because he or she sets the pace, steers the boat, and provides motivation to pull harder to win the race. I listened in wonder as this tiny man described how he felt as his team began to fall behind their biggest rivals. They had given up weekends, and not fulfilled family obligations to train to beat this team and now they were falling behind. He said he just became angry and began to shout to his team mates: “If not you then who… If not now then when?” He yelled this at the top of his lungs and picked up the pace.
Rowing is a sport that exercises all the major muscle groups and is a test of cardiovascular endurance as well. That said, I’m certain that before he started yelling, his team members muscles were also screaming “pain!” “pain!” “pain!”. This tiny man said he kept yelling at the top of his lungs “If not you then who… If not now then when?” faster and faster and with each stroke he became more desperate! And slowly they began to pull up to the other team and edged them for the win.
I told my friend this was a lesson for me whenever I was ready to give myself an excuse or give in to my fears. “If not you then who… if not now then when?” We spend whole lifetimes trying to avoid the difficult stuff when it serves a useful purpose. Once you’ve reached a roadblock and are ready to give yourself an out, remember how tired you are of the situation like the coxswain in that boat. Then come up with something, even if it is only ONE thing, you will do and do consistently to change the situation rather than continuing to moan, complain, or wish that things were different. You are going to be surprised how that one action can set other things in motion and begin to change your life.
So, for those who have been motivated but have yet to start I say: “If not NOW then when?”
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