Two people take the same action but get different results – what’s the reason?

One CEO/Founder gives a speech and rivets the audience. The other leaves people surreptitiously checking their phones.

One business owner recruits a superstar COO, but the other owner makes an offer that’s rejected.

One entrepreneur creates a new product that captures market share in record time. The other entrepreneur’s product development stumbles along and is phased out.

What’s the difference?

You’ll want to think it’s their experience, their education, or their funding, but those are not the reasons.

Maybe you think that one performs better than the other.

You’d be right.

But you know the reason?

Actions alone don’t create success. It’s the state you’re in when you take those actions that makes the difference.

In other words, how you feel.

Your feelings are the fuel for your actions.

It’s the quality of that fuel that leads to success.

Most entrepreneurs have a bias for action. We think it’s a superpower because on the surface it seems like results are created by what we DO.

But if you’re feeling frustration, doubt, or overwhelm, it’s like putting diesel in a gasoline engine.

Not only does it not work, but it ruins your engine.

You want to feel clear, focused, and confident when you take action so that your energy acts like a force multiplier.

But what if you’re not feeling that way?

It’s not always possible to shift directly from doubt to confidence. From overwhelm to clarity. From frustration to focus.

Here’s what does always works.

Stop. Take a breath. Get yourself into neutral.

In other words, get curious.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What do I really want?
2. Who do I want to be in the face of this?
3. What would this look like if it was easy?

The way you feel when you answer these questions is the fuel that will create the future of your business.