The Science of Taking Action: Lessons from Steve Garguilo’s TED Talk

Feeling overwhelmed by a big goal? Let’s take some pointers from Steve Garguilo. In his TED Talk “The Science of Taking Action“, Garguilo reminds us that even seemingly overwhelming goals can be achieved by taking a series of manageable steps. His words are “Everything in life that’s hard, is just a series of things that are easy. You just have to take that first step.”

The key is to identify the “right” first step. Let’s say you want to learn a new language. The “right” first step wouldn’t be diving into complex grammar rules – it might be researching beginner language courses or downloading a language learning app.

In his talk, he identified three things to be aware of when going for a goal:

• Taking action is like building muscle. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Remember when you were learning to ride a bike? It took practice, but eventually, you could ride without thinking. The same is true for taking action on your goals.
• We often procrastinate because we make things seem bigger than they are. Garguilo suggests when we “set a time later” for action, it can lead to delays. Instead, take a small step right now!
• Don’t be afraid to seek help! Garguilo also points out that it’s often easier to generate ideas for others. Talk to a friend, mentor, or online forum related to your goal. They can help you brainstorm those initial, manageable steps.

Remember, progress over perfection. The important thing is to get started and keep moving forward, one step at a time.

ACTION:  Take a moment right now to identify a small, manageable first step for your goal. Even a tiny step forward is progress!