“Action is the foundational key to all success.”
Pablo Picasso
Imagine Alexander the Great standing in front of the Gordian Knot, a legendary puzzle so tightly bound that it was believed that no one could untangle it. Alexander was faced with a choice: attempt to solve it the way it was “supposed” to be done or find his own way. What did he do? Legend tells that he drew his sword and cut right through it. Simple, decisive, direct.
Now, we might not face ancient prophecies or knotted ropes, but we face our own Gordian Knots every day, don’t we? Decisions that seem so complex, they leave us frozen. We wait for a clearer answer, for all the data, for the perfect moment—but all too often, we’re just giving our fears more time to grow. Fear, the silent force that often holds us back from action.
Alexander knew that the longer you wait, the more power your doubt has over you. Action isn’t about perfection; it’s about movement. He would’ve gotten lost in the complexity if he had hesitated, just like everyone else before him. Instead, he chose momentum. He chose to act.
So, what’s keeping you from drawing your sword and making a move? What would your replacement do if they stepped into your shoes right now? They’d do something, anything, to get things moving. Set a timer, pick an option, and act. The first step is the hardest, but it’s also the one that breaks the power of indecision. Remember, action is the antidote to doubt.
Challenge Question: What’s the smallest step you can take right now to slice through the knot in front of you?
