One of the most helpful truths my friend Lee Brower has taught me is “Lift the Anchor.” When we face a big, insurmountable project we often fail to tackle it because of it’s size, or that the ‘getting ready’ is its self an enormous task. So the question is: How do you move a battleship? You don’t have to haul the anchor thousands of feet up from the sea floor and safely stow it on deck. All you have to do is lift the anchor an inch off the sea floor and you can move the ship. So the BIG SHIP in your life that you need to move only requires a small task to get started: Lift the anchor!

Lifting the anchor, taking action, take the first step, getting in motion—they are all the same principle. Norman Vincent Peale said “Inaction is both the result of fear and the cause of fear.” When we take action it begins to build our confidence (or restore confidence that has waned.) So get up off the couch, put on your sneakers, and walk the first 100 steps toward the physically fit you. That’s lifting the anchor. Clean just one drawer in your dressor, or one spot on your desk. That’s lifting the anchor. Sweep just one corner of your garage. Anchor’s away!

What BIG challenge do you face today? You can be paralyzed by fear and enormity, or you can take the first step.

Get in motion!