Many people know me as a bit of chatterbox, especially when it comes to something I’m passionate about. Whether it’s commentary on the latest news, opinions on celebrity fashion, or the constant flow of ideas that clutter my head, I’ll talk … and talk … and talk about it with excitement to any and everyone willing to listen.
But when it comes to making real boss moves, I’ve found that many of my friends and colleagues doing big things often move in silence, not letting the cat out of the bag until something is up and running or confirmed.
Much of their “talking” is strategic: You wouldn’t know about a new project until it officially launches via a press release or an invite to join in celebrating a new venture, career advancement or personal achievement.
People who talk a lot about their aspirations and what they are planning to do are what my Granny calls “I’mas,” and she constantly warns me against becoming one of them: “Don’t be an ‘I’ma’ … Always saying, ‘I’ma do this … I’ma do that.’ Those people never do what they say they’re gonna do, so busy talking and looking like a fool when all the talk amounts to nothing.”
I’ve met many I’mas in my life. One would often boast about upstart ideas he had and ask me for insight on how he could make his visions reality.
“I’ma get rich with this one!”
“Ima send you the business plan tomorrow!”
“Ima call you so we can trade some ideas next week!”
I’ma … I’ma … I’ma …
There was never any effort on his part to get started. As a result, I felt it a waste of time to spend any extra effort to help him, though his ideas were awesome. His wishy-washy, dream mentality was a turn off, and I’m sure prospective investors would have had a hard time taking him seriously.
The people achieving success, especially in their careers or in business, are doers, driven by trial and error. They are self-motivated and are too busy DOING; not talking.
One doer I know closed on a new condo, and though we’re tight like a Venus and Serena team-up, I knew nothing about it until visiting her new address. We laughed over dinner as she told me about how happy she was to own her first home.
Another entrepreneur friend of mine added beauty products to her fashion and beauty consulting brand recently. One day, as we were meeting to have a ladies night, she offered me a chance to try her body butters which were already packaged and available for sale. I knew nothing about it until that night.
A father and enterprising actor I recently interviewed just celebrated founding a publishing company he started with his daughter. “I saw the potential in my daughter and what she was offering … I asked her if she wanted people around the world to read her books. She agreed, and we just did it.”
Point. Blank. Period.
I find this to be a great skill to develop and cultivate—managing the chatter until the talk becomes reality. Less talk. More doing.
Unless talking will take you straight to the bank (hence my entry into the world of media, LOL), less talk and more action is often key to making moves for success in life.
Here’s a challenge: If you have something you’ve always wanted to do, just do it. And if you have something you’ve been procrastinating about, talking won’t get you further to completing that task. Just get started.
Don’t be an I’ma. Time to show and prove.