Have you ever noticed that writers love to talk about their plans and goals?

Plans and goals are important, but there is also a danger in talking about them too much. The more we talk about them, especially on social media, it makes us feel like we are making progress without actually having done the work.

If you’re a detail person, you probably have an elaborate vision of what your completed goal looks like.

Maybe it’s a finished book, a podcast that is launched, or client work that is completed. But this perfect vision in your head is usually nothing like the day-to-day messiness of actually achieving that goal.

We stop and start. We get sidetracked. We get interrupted. We get tired. And before long, the pristine vision of a perfectly achieved goal comes crumbling down and we just want to quit.

The solution is deceptively simple, and it comes from a man who had more than his fair share of complicated creative projects.

Walt Disney was the master of bringing creative dreams to life. As the creator and visionary of the first full-length animated movie, the modern theme park, and so much other amazing work, he knew a thing or two about what it takes to get through the messy creative process and produce tangible results.

Walt Disney said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

This is great advice for every writer. Goals are important to success, but the real key is taking daily action toward those goals, even when it feels messy and frustrating.

Or perhaps, especially when it feels messy and frustrating.

Today’s Challenge: Ask yourself whether you’re talking about your goals too much and not working on them enough. Be honest.