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Mind the Gap to Win!
Issue #021 | May 30th, 2025

Hey Will here……Welcome to this week’s Insider!
Grab a cup of coffee (I’ll wait) and take a moment to think about this: there’s a tricky gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.
This week, we dive into how we can bridge the Knowledge and Doing gap together!
Reflect for a moment on how much of your day is filled with learning, researching, or “getting ready”—rather than actually shipping, selling, or building.
You’re definitely not alone!
In today’s world, it often feels like the spotlight shines on information gatherers instead of those taking action.
It’s so tempting to stay cozy in the comfort of knowledge and trick ourselves into thinking we’re making real progress. But the truth is…
You nod along with podcasts, but nothing changes in your bank account.
You buy courses, download templates, and read “how-to” guides—but your boldest idea never sees the light of day.
You obsess over frameworks and strategies, but you’re still stuck at the starting line.
Let’s call it what it is: Knowledge is potential. Action is power.
If you’re ready to finally break the cycle and truly get sh*t done—this is your wake-up call.
➡️ Wake Up or Stay Stuck!
It’s time to rip the band-aid off.
You’re not paralyzed because you’re lazy—you’re stuck because “learning mode” is addictive and safe.
Consumption = Comfort: It feels productive to study and research. There’s no risk in theory. No rejection. No public flop.
The “Almost Ready” Lie: You keep telling yourself, “I just need a little more prep.” Guess what? Perfection is a mirage. You will never feel fully ready.
Infinite Options, Zero Decisions: With endless advice, frameworks, and playbooks, overwhelm is the default. Your brain wants another checklist. Your soul wants to move.
Ego Armor: If you never launch, nobody can criticize you. If you never act, nobody can call you out—except you, at 2 AM, when you know you’re built for more.
The Ugly Cost: Every hour you hesitate, your edge blunts. Every day you stall, someone else, less prepared but more decisive, is racing past you.
The ONLY way out is through action. Loud, imperfect, public action.
➡️ The “Blind” Leap…..
A friend of mine faced the challenge of losing her job and realized she wasn’t keen on the routine of “going to the office.”
She had been immersed in marketing courses for years but had never taken the plunge to launch her “BIG” idea.
With no funds and feeling a little overwhelmed at rock bottom, she decided to give it one last “Hail Mary” shot.
She thought, 'Screw it,’ and put together a 'good enough’ landing page in just 90 minutes and just got moving focusing in on that one thing!
Even though it didn’t succeed, that experience gave her invaluable lessons that are worth so much more than all the money she ever spent on courses she never finished or the gurus who crashed and burned along the way. She started winning!
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➡️ Be, Act, Have…….
I have a question for you: Are you ready to be the kind of person who embraces action, no matter what? Or will you continue to rely on the next course or idea to shape your future?
Here’s a delightful little secret that every unstoppable high achiever comes to understand:
You don’t wait to “have” the confidence or clarity.
You act as if you ARE the finisher, the risk-taker, the builder.
You move first—results come later.
Your new endgame (simple, sweet, and to the point):
Be: Claim your identity now. Who are you being today?
Act: What would that person do right now, before another excuse comes up?
Have: You only earn the win by taking action.
Let’s engage in some radical self-interrogation and see where it leads us:
Who do I refuse to be any longer?
Who do I choose to be, starting now?
What’s one action my “next-level” self would absolutely take today?
It's time to be accountable for your actions. Take a moment to jot down your responses, display them on your screen, and share them with someone who’ll call your bluff.
If you really want to move the needle, try this 30-Minute Action Sprint.
Pick the action you’ve been avoiding. Set a 30-minute timer. No prepping, no polishing, just do the thing. Then—share it, track it, brag a little.
The difference between winners and wishers? Winners act, even when it’s ugly.
Here’s a delightful little bonus just for you! Simply plug this into ChatGPT or your favorite AI copilot, and be sure to take action on the answer before diving into more information:
StartSmart Power Prompt:
Act as a high-performance coach specializing in behavior change, productivity, and mindset. You help ambitious individuals turn insight into action by breaking inertia, dissolving internal resistance, and translating knowledge into results.
Here’s my current situation: I feel stuck between knowing and doing. I keep learning about [TOPIC 1], but I haven’t yet taken this specific action: [ACTION 1]. I’m also circling around [TOPIC 2], yet avoiding this important step: [ACTION 2].
For each action I’m avoiding, I want you to answer the following with specificity and urgency:
What is the smallest but boldest step I could take this week to generate momentum?
What’s likely stopping me—fear, perfectionism, distraction, or something else? Diagnose the real block.
How can I reduce friction and make the step so simple and inevitable that I can’t not do it?
What’s one strategic public accountability move that would raise the stakes and help guarantee follow-through?
Pro Tip: Don’t hold off until you feel fully confident or completely clear. Taking action helps you build both! You'll find that momentum starts to flow when you push yourself to move, even when you're not quite feeling it.
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➡️ Weapons for Action Junkies
Get Out of Your Head—Start Moving
Achieving new results is a journey that requires more than just thinking or planning; it demands taking decisive and consistent action.
While having insights and ideas is important, their real value shines when they are brought to life through action.
To turn your thoughts into tangible results, you need to be proactive and get moving!
Bring your ideas and tasks to life with clear progress! Trello lets you easily move your tasks onto simple boards, so nothing gets forgotten. You can set up columns like "Ideas," "Next Actions," "In Progress," and "Done." Whenever you have a new task, add it as a card and watch it move across the board until it's finished!
Try Trello free - Your Visual Planning Partner.
Set up a “StartSmart Execution” board. For every tip, strategy, or challenge from this newsletter, create a card and move it to “Done” once you act.
✅ Copy.ai – AI Content Creation On Demand
Stuck staring at a blank page? Copy.ai turns rough thoughts or bullet points into client-ready emails, headlines, outlines, and even entire landing pages—fast.
✅ Loom (Video Accountability & Feedback)
It's time to step out and show what you've been working on! Go ahead and record a 60-second Loom video of your actions, embracing every part of it, even if it feels a bit rough or incomplete. Share it with a trusted partner, your mastermind.”
Get Loom (no time for make-up!)
Don’t just announce your goals—show your receipts.
➡️ Your Move. Zero Mercy!
Either Make Moves or Make Excuses…..
You already know what matters. Prove it with real action now.
This Week’s Challenge
No more “someday.” Pick one thing—the thing you’ve been avoiding.
What’s the ONE move I will DO this week, even if it’s messy or half-done?
Block 30 minutes. Take action.
Your future is shaped by the doors you choose to open.
The world isn’t waiting on you.
The winners definitely aren’t waiting on you.
And neither should you.
So what’s it going to be?
Wallow in the shallow end, or dive into the deep end?
You know the answer. Now make your move.
Remember: Comfort is a cage. Your inner circle is your rocket fuel. Don’t just find the perfect group—build it, and then own it.
Week's Hot Question: What is your BIG play this week that will change the game and propel you to the next level?
If you ever find yourself stuck for ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out to your trusty AI assistant for a little help!
🔥 Want More Magic: Join Our StartSmart Exchange Community Here!
Until then, Think Big, Play Smart, and Build Strong.
To your success,
-Coach Will
Please let me know if you have any comments or require assistance. I read everything; you never know what doors might open from a simple conversation.
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