The Law of Diminishing Intent
The longer you wait to take action, the less likely you will be to take it.
Waiting to Take Action
Coined by Jim Rohn and popularized by John Maxwell, the Law of Diminishing Intent tell us the longer you wait to take action, the less likely you will be to take it.
Imagine you have a brilliant idea in the shower one day, but put off taking any action until “later”… maybe next week or next month, when you have more time.
According to the Law of Diminishing Intent, the more time passes between the idea and the action, the less likely the action becomes.
Make it Work for You, Not Against You
If you’re the type of entrepreneur who has countless ideas every day, you might find yourself ping ponging between them, always starting something new and never finishing anything. If that sounds familiar, make the Law of Diminishing Intent work for you by creating a distance between idea and action. Weed out distractions. Capture all your ideas on a spreadsheet or whiteboard and carve out time once every few months to decide which ones deserve your attention. You’ll probably find that with a bit of distance, some of those great ideas aren’t so amazing after all.
On the other hand, if you find yourself putting off action – getting caught up in research, preparation, and study without ever taking the plunge – make the Law of Diminishing Intent work for you by closing the gap between idea and execution. What’s one small action you can take right away? The sooner you do something tangible, the greater the chances you’ll keep moving forward.
And finally, make the Law of Diminishing Intent work for you by incorporating it into your sales process. Have you ever had a prospect who seemed enthusiastic at first, but then went cold? The greater the distance between your sales meeting and the next action they need to take, the less likely it becomes that they will move forward. What can you ask them to do right away, in the moment? Secure their commitment to taking the next step.
This Week’s Takeaway
Where have you observed the Law of Diminishing Intent in your business?
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