It's Leap Year...So, Go Ahead and Take That Leap!

There’s a classic riddle that I pose in my leadership workshops that goes like this:

There are 5 frogs on a log.

One decides to jump into the pond.

So, how many are left?

The answer?

Still 5.

Why?

Because the frog DECIDED to jump in…but didn’t actually DO it.

And it’s the DOING that counts!

When I was ten year’s old, my family visited a local swimming pool club on Long Island that had a high diving board. All the other kids were having so much fun scampering up that tall ladder and jumping into the water that -- after much deliberation --?I hesitantly decided to give it a try, too, even though, as an extreme introvert, I had a debilitating?fear of heights (as well as a fear of the other kids).

But, I decided to force myself.

So, gingerly climbing up the ladder, I inched my way out to the very edge of the diving board. Only, when I got to the very edge and looked down, it was even more terrifying than I had expected!

Changing my mind, I quickly turned around with the intent of backing my way down the ladder…only to find that about five other kids had already climbed up the ladder and were impatiently waiting their turn:

“COME ON…GO ALREADY!!!” they were all screaming at me.

So, completely embarrassed, and with, really, no other choice, I turned back around, ran the length of the board, bounced off the edge, and dove in – head first!

And what do you think I did the rest of that afternoon? Yup. I kept on climbing that ladder and diving back in again...and again...and again, until the sun went down and it was time to head home.

Writing this, I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite Seth Godin posts -- which, at a single sentence in length, is probably his shortest...and, yet, most impactful. In fact, I keep a printed copy of it right here on my desk where I can see it everyday. It simply says:

“You don’t need more time...you just need to decide.”

And that's it.

But after deciding -- just like that frog on the log -- we then need to act.

So often we are racked with indecision and/or paralyzed by fear that we put off making a decision until the window of opportunity closes, at which point the decision is made for us.

In fact, if you think about it, NOT making a decision?is a decision you've made.

The psychologist William James wrote that “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.”

So, think about it: How many potentially life-enhancing?opportunities have you missed out on simply due to your own fear, procrastination, and/or perfectionism?

We come up with excuse after excuse about why something can’t be done, but as futurist Joel Barker puts it -- and as I experienced on that high diving board that day:?

“Those who say ‘it can’t be done’ need to get out of the way of those who are doing it.”

The bottom line is that no one wants to hear excuses; they only want to see results.

This point is so incredibly important that I'll say it again:

Nobody wants to hear excuses.

They only want to see results.

So, no more overanaylsis paralysis. No more procrastination. And no more putting things off until it's a perfect time, as there is no such thing.

Now is the time.

But one word of caution: When it comes to big, important, life-changing decisions, you don't want to just dive in blindly. You want to carefully and thoughtfully weight the pros and cons before making any important decisions.

And, you don't have to do it alone; don't be shy about seeking the counsel of others you trust. But, ultimately, the decison is up to you. I've found that one way to do make a decision with greater confidence is to ask yourself this powerful "Future-Self Question" ("FSQ"):

"Will my 'Future Self' THANK me...or BLAME me...for what I am about to do?"

Asking yourself this simple question before taking action can help you to feel more confident in your decision...as well as save yourself a lot of potential regrets.

So, this Leap Year, take that extra day on the calendar -- this Bonus 24-hour period -- to think about what big decision or decisions you need to make...and then make them...with no looking back.

Or...you can?simply keep on doing what you're doing, and put off making a decision until next Leap Year.

After all, it's only four?more years away.

This was an excerpt from chapter 52 of my book, "VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life ." If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy my book! Please click the above link to check it out.