We all know people who talk a lot but don’t say much. We also know people who do a lot, but don’t get much done. If you are of the variety who always has a long list of “to-do” items and doesn’t ever seem to achieve a sense of achievement.

Perhaps you are living life in a flurry of activity instead of purposeful action.
Those who live their life in a flurry of activity are chronically over committed, under resourced and often fail to complete even a single item on their list. Individuals of this type will find themselves exhausted at the end of a day, feeling as though they ran a marathon without ever leaving the starting line. From the outside looking in, others may admire their energy. Strangers may feel envious at all they are engaged in and the experiences they appear to be embracing. But to those who know them, they cannot hide their lack of follow-through and their disappointment at not measuring up to what they think they should be able to accomplish. The flurry of activity is not taking them to their purpose in life. It is only marginally keeping them treading water.

On the other hand, for those who take purposeful action in their life, the scene is much more productive. Here we have a person who understands their present limitations and works within their life to create space for things they want to add to it. This person evaluates opportunities to decide if they fit the purpose they seek or if they should pass by for someone who may be in a better position to fill that role.

I have had opportunity to observe both categories over my years of leading, managing and working one on one with people. Through this observation I have observed four common characteristics in those that take purposeful action:
1. Have a goal: The first characteristic is that they have a measurable goal. A goal of becoming debt free, getting healthier, completing a degree, or any other lifestyle choice.
2. Conscious Decision Making: People taking purposeful action make decisions based on how close or how far the outcome will get them to their goal.
3. Freedom to Fail: In some cases, even with a goal and conscious decision making, purposeful action can lead to an obstacle that cannot be surmounted. People acting purposefully are resilient enough to acknowledge the failure, learn from it and identify the next impactful action to get them to their goal.
4. Support System: Perhaps the most important characteristic is a support system that not only encourages you, but holds you accountable. Working with an objective friend or finding a life coach can be viable options.

If you feel that you fall more in to the first category than the second, using these characteristics as a guide can start you on the path to enacting purposeful action in your own life.