Ben Stroup

Vision is great. It’s important. And it’s vital to success.

BUT ideas are just ideas…words on a board…scribbles on a page…random thoughts on a voice recorder.

Pithy statements about what we HOPE to be DOESN’T accomplish anything. They may make us FEEL good about ourselves…but how can you MEASURE feelings? YOU CAN’T!

Action is what MAKES THINGS HAPPEN.

In two years of consulting, I’ve only fired ONE client. Why? You guessed it. They only wanted to talk…and talk some more…and then some more. They paid on time. They scheduled meetings. But they never wanted to get ANYTHING done.

Honestly, I lost interest. If I wanted to meet and listen to people talk — and never take ACTION — I would have been a therapist. (I’m guessing that wouldn’t have worked out AT ALL.)

I get BORED…easily. (Which is probably why I never “fit” in corporate culture.)

Maybe the reason you’ve LOST the INTEREST and AFFECTION of your donors, prospects, or clients is because you’re not DOING anything. Donors, prospects, and clients are not built-in annuities to support your lifestyle. Donors, prospects, and clients are opportunities to DO SOMETHING that REALLY MATTERS.

ACTION keeps me engaged. It’s no different with your donors, prospects, or clients.

Are you JUST BUSY or are you MOVING things FORWARD? I’m TIRED of TALKING. Aren’t you?

Ben Stroup is a content activist in a post-paragraph world. He is chief broker of opportunity at Ben Stroup Enterprises. Connect with Ben via email, Twitter, and Google+. Subscribe via email to learn how to use content to move people to action.