We all have heard Nike's famous slogan - Just Do It! They've made some amazing, memorable and motivating commercials with that tagline (view the very first commercial here). The tagline has also given middle-school aged boys endless material for their bathroom humor repertoire.

But this article isn't about Nike or the backstory of the tagline. This article is about the profound meaning of those three words.

Everyone at some point in their lives has felt limiting beliefs, lack of confidence, analysis paralysis, demotivation, and so on. How do these feelings impact those that experience them? Well, the answer isn't so simple.

One would think the obvious answer is that those negative feelings result in inaction. People stop. They don't move forward. They don't take action.

Yet, we all have seen so many people who feel overwhelmed, burnt-out and dejected but are still able to plow ahead and get things done. I call people with this characteristic trait "doers". Many C-Level executives, fast-rising professionals and successful entrepreneurs have this trait. The good news is that this trait can be developed and nurtured.

If you are wondering how "doers" are able to overcome those negative feelings and emotions, let me enlighten you.

Simply put, they "Just Do It".

I know, I know, that was a copout answer, but it doesn't mean it's wrong.

Let's take a look at what that means:

Just Doing It

There's a famous speech titled Stop Thinking and Just Do by Hollywood actor Benedict Cumberbatch, or as my daughters call him, Dr. Strange (you can watch the video here). In it, he emphasizes that we tend to worry too much, and never take action. His passionate plea is for people to stop making excuses for the sake of making excuses and "Just Do".

Even though the "doers" stress and worry, they don't let it paralyze them. These "doers" have built a mindset that helps them push through. They have achieved this by consistently going into the uncomfortable. They have felt the demotivation, and yet plowed through the pain and took action. They faced countless rejection, until they were desensitized by it.

What the "doers" learned is that situations aren't as bad as they originally seem. They understand that worrying about a problem is the trigger for them to make moves, not the quicksand for them to get trapped in. Inevitably, the worrying is embraced, not feared. The worrying is part of the process, par for the course.

Habits Are The Secret

When "doers" consistently "Just Do", they are building a core habit. We've all heard that habits are the secret to success, and this habit is no different. Just as you may have the habit to pick up your phone every 3 minutes to see your notifications or scroll through IG or TikTok, you will recognize these repeated patterns are learned - and therefore, can be unlearned. We have good and bad habits, and both have monumental impact on our lives, our profession and our mental and physical health.

Think of dieting, or exercising. Eating right and working out consistently are learned habits. Those of you who have a healthy lifestyle have created non-negotiable daily nutritional requirements, workout days, appropriate sleep schedules and mental healing routines. When you first start out, you are feeling your way through it, but eventually they become habits. The same applies to "Just Doing It". When you first start, it will be uncomfortable, but the consistency of taking action eventually becomes a non-negotiable habit.

Don't Ignore Mental Health

Limiting beliefs, burnout, demotivation and lack of confidence aren't to be ignored. Taking action and "Just Doing" can be remedies as I've highlighted in this article, but mental health is complex and therefore it requires attention. Sometimes, before you can muster up the courage to "Just Do", you need to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally.

Be sure to take time to process, create a support system around you and discuss your challenges and feelings with people. Compartmentalizing is not the solution. Nothing good will come out of you taking action, but consistently hating it because you haven't addressed other important factors.

Parting Words

When I help professionals with confidence building or communication skills, the biggest takeaway for them is recognizing that they were holding themselves back because they put an artificial wall in front of them by not taking action. Even when you take action, it may not work…but it doesn't mean you create another artificial wall in front of you. It just means you have to find another way around that challenge.

There's a reason why Nike's tagline and Benedict Cumberbatch's speech resonates with so many people. Those simple words "Just Do" or "Just Do It" have so much power. If you give in to this concept, I guarantee you will begin feeling like He-Man, telling yourself and the world "I HAVE THE POWER"!

PS - If you want help with your confidence or communication skills, let's have a conversation: Schedule a call with me or learn more about coaching here.

Thought Of The Week

A weekly thought to meditate, ruminate, and/or ponder on:

What Is Stopping Me From Taking Action?