Just do it?

Just Do It?

The world is made up of those that do, and those that don’t.

Those that “do” fall into a number of categories. Those that do because they have to. Those that do because they want to. Those that do because they are forced to. Those that do because they can do. Those that do because they made a mistake. (In this case, they do something to correct a mistake that they made, or they were trying to do something else when a mistake is what is done.) Then there are those that do just because of luck or happenstance. And there are those that do, just to make a stand. I’m sure you can come up with more.

There are also a number of categories for those that don’t. Those that don’t because they don’t have or want to. Those that don’t because they don’t know how to, whatever it is they were asked to do. Those that don’t because they are just too lazy to do it or they know how to get others to do it for them. Those that don’t because they forget to do. Those that don’t as a form of protest or because of a moral/ethical objection to what is asked to be done. Those that can do and are willing to do, but don’t because they were never asked. 

The question to ask yourself in any given situation is, “Should I do this or not?”

My mother used to say, “If you want something done, you have to do it yourself.” Therein lies the bottom line for both the doers and the don’ters. Do you want whatever it is to be done? Do you want to maintain others’ respect and trust in you? Is it something that you can tackle alone or something you would do a better job of with collaboration?

As much as a value my mother’s adage, I would like to tweak it a bit. 

If you want something done, first decide who best can do it. If it is you like my mother said just do it. If it is you with the help of others, then you all should do it. And if it is something that can’t be done…add the word “yet” to it, for at some time in the future, it may, in fact, be able to be done. 

This last caveat is an adage that I’ve added to my own advice to others. I told my students that they were not allowed to say “I can’t” on its own. I instructed them that they should rephrase their statement to, “I can’t …(whatever is to be done) … yet.” 

I know some of you out there will say to me that there are things that are impossible, however, by adding the word, “yet”, you make it so there is still hope and you are less likely to give up easily. And, who knows, maybe someday we will be able to do the impossible. If you doubt me, ask DaVinci and Jules Verne when you meet them. Oh, that’s right, you can’t travel through time…yet.