There’s something I began to practise lately which I wish to share with you. Aside from fictional books, many times when we buy books, we are in search of an idea or something to learn to improve our hard and soft skills.

The same happens with searching for an article online on a given subject, watching a particular video, or listening to a podcast. This is often the case with self-help books, videos, and podcasts.

I often saw myself, trying to finish the book, video, or podcast before applying whatever I learned from it. And many times, before the end, I have either forgotten the idea I want to apply or the zeal to apply it has waned.

To help myself, a while ago I decided to change my approach. The moment I perceive that I have received what I need, I pause my reading, watching, and listening and swing into action. I became an executor of ideas.

As an author, there’s always a central idea in the chapters of my books. I desire that once my reader gets that idea, he should swing into action even if he hasn’t finished the book. He can come back to read the rest, but action is better than finishing and doing nothing.

Life does not reward those who read a book because they finished, it rewards those who act on what they read even if they didn’t finish it. The things that you almost did are not counted, but the things you did are, even if you failed after attempting them.

If you’re going through social media and a particular video or writeup just spoke to what you needed, pause and take action immediately.

Why?
The next thing you’re about to read or watch may take away that resolve from you. You could even totally forget what you had thought to do. Once an idea strikes a chord in the strings of your heart and you feel you’ve gotten what you need, pause it all and execute.

So, are you inspired to pray, study, evangelise, pursue a dream, write, forgive etc.? Pause and act immediately. Acting on that idea and failing is better than not acting at all.