Scale Aspiration into Action
Can change the world
But they cannot
Unless the dreams
Are made
Real
This is a chapter from our book Futurework
– A Guidebook for The Future of Work
Having a significant impact depends on setting significant goals. Throughout history people who have achieved success in their endeavours set their sights on going beyond expectations.
From climbing the highest mountain to crossing the widest ocean, major accomplishments are the result of combining aspiration with action. What is often overlooked is the difference in scale between the two.
Major impact depends on small actions.
As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu observed, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Note that this wise advice was not, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a great leap.” While the resulting outcome may be a great leap, the actions to achieve this are far smaller in scale.
The critical factor is that small yet incredibly powerful word – action.
Too many leaders and organisations make the mistake of confusing aspiration with action. While the two words may begin and end the same, at the core they are very different. Aspiration is longer, slower, more wordy. While action just gets on with it.
Our world is filled with too many aspirational mission statements, visionary presentations, creative sticky notes and inspired meeting chats – that lead nowhere new. As a result the teams involved lose momentum beyond their moment of aspiration, returning to their desks to continue on with the status quo.
The phrase ‘paralysis by analysis’ exists for good reason. While research and planning are vital elements in successfully achieving goals, too often individuals and teams remain in this phase. Convincing themselves that the more they analyse, the greater their chance of success. While perhaps subconsciously knowing that their planning has long since crossed the line into the procrastination zone.
So how do we make the shift from aspiration to action?
scale.
Not SCALE or even Scale.
Take that first small step. Then another. And another.
While realising that stepping is a physical action. So research, meetings and planning are not active steps. They are preparation to take that first step.
Instead scale your bold aspiration into action. For example if you are planning to launch an inspirational new type of social network, actively post something on an existing platform as a mini scaled quick hack of your future vision.
As a result you will be able to see how others respond.
By stepping forward.
Impactful Habit
Reflection: What significant aspirations do you have that you are yet to make a start on or seem to have lost momentum? Consider what series of steps might lead to the desired outcome. Then visualise yourself taking that first step.
Conversation: Share one of your aspirations with others. Take care to frame it in such a way that they are also inspired by the possible outcomes. Ask what might be some good next actions to take? If the suggestions are passive research, meetings or planning, explore what active steps might also be possible.
Action: Take one of the possible actions and scale it into an achievable step. If the suggestion was to fly to the mountain and climb it, rather than researching flight costs, instead travel to a local hill that day and start climbing – while visioning yourself on the next higher stage of progress.