I like to mow the yard.  For me, this is a simple and even gratifying sequence of actions:  start the mower; drive the mower in patterns around the entire yard; put the mower away; yard looks good.  In the end, I feel good for deciding to and then finishing the actions.  I am a world-class mower.

Most work projects that we order, initiate, influence, and eventually move to closure are generally filled with numerous levels of complexity.  There are actions, then next actions, then the next actions after that.  Other people’s decisions, actions, and connected influences add to this complexity when integration is required.  But, we know from mowing the yard that setting forth with the actions and the next actions are critical with being productive.  The project will not be finished without the sequenced decisions and actions being completed in logical order.

Of note, actions are the physical and visible activities that you engage in.  You’re not thinking about it any longer, you’ve actually decided and then acted.  A “stall” will occur when you defer the decision of what action is next.  Of course it is optimal to decide and then to act all the way through.  If you need to defer complex decisions (and you will), put some ordered process in place for when you will again decide and act to wrap it up.  By  example, don’t clutter your mind with a partially mown yard without a planned process to finish the sequence of decisions and actions.

“The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation.  The hand is more important than the eye… The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.”  — J. Bronowski —

MITM