When you take action you've moved from the getting-ready stage to the doing-something-about-it stage. As soon as you take the first step, you've moved out of the preparation stage.

This may apply to your getting ready to start your business, or getting ready to develop a new product, or getting ready to hire a new employee. No matter what the task, you create momentum by taking the first step.

Do you feel as if you've been in the preparation stage forever? If this sounds like you, you are not alone. Many entrepreneurs find themselves stuck in the getting-ready stage.

This can occur for a number of reasons but one common reason is being a perfectionist and wanting everything to be perfect before you get started. Face it! Things will never be perfect.

If this has happened to you, get unstuck by determining your first action and then taking it.

Action steps:

- Determine where you are stuck.
- Identify the actions that need to be taken.
- Take the first action this week.
- Then take the next step (you will no longer be getting ready, you will now be working through the doing stage).