Battle Creek
Advertisement Advertisement
Smiling Stu Sutherland

Smiling Stu Sutherland

Jan 21, 2026

0 Comments

"Ready to Win? Stop Waiting and Seize the Day!"

Unleash Your Full Potential: How to Achieve Success Now

Share:
"Ready to Win? Stop Waiting and Seize the Day!"

We are nearing the end of David J. Schwartz’s classic, and this week the focus shifts entirely to execution.

 

You can have the biggest ideas in the world, but without action and resilience, they stay just that—ideas.

 

Chapter 10: Get the Action Habit

 

 Schwartz draws a line in the sand between two types of people: Activationists (those who do) and Passivationists (those who don't).

 

The number one reason people stay "Passivationists" is that they are waiting for conditions to be perfect. Schwartz’s advice?

 

 Don’t wait.

 

Conditions will never be perfect. There will always be a risk, a problem, or an uncertainty.

 

  • Action cures fear. Inaction feeds it.

  • Use the "mechanical" way to start. Don’t wait for the "spirit" to move you. Just go through the motions of starting, and the spirit will catch up. The hardest part of writing a letter is finding the pen. Once you start, the rest flows.

 

Chapter 11: How to Turn Defeat into Victory

 

 Here is a hard truth: Big success involves big setbacks.

 

The difference between a winner and a loser isn't that the winner never fails—it’s how they react when they do.

 

Schwartz urges us to be constructive, not critical, when things go wrong.

 

  • Salvage the lesson. When you hit a wall, don’t get angry. Study the wall. Ask, "What caused this?" and "How can I avoid it next time?"

  • Blend persistence with experimentation. Don’t just bang your head against the wall (that’s mere persistence). Look for a door, a window, or a ladder (that’s experimentation).

 

Your Challenge for the Week

 

 Be an Activationist. Identify one task you have been putting off because you were waiting for the "right time." Do it today. Even if you do it imperfectly, doing it is infinitely better than waiting.

 

Keep Reading With Us:

Get the Book on Amazon

Listen on Audible

 

Let’s get moving this week!

Stay up to date with our local news!

Get articles like this delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

0 Comments

Join the conversation

Be the first to comment

Share your thoughts above.

More from The Cereal City Buzz

The Cereal City Buzz


"Spotlighting the Flavor, Innovation, and Energy of Battle Creek! Discover the best of Battle Creek with The Battle Creek Buzz! From must-try restaurants and thriving local businesses to exciting events and hidden gems, we bring you the heart and soul of our community. Stay connected, support locals, and explore all that Battle Creek offers! Don’t miss a beat—subscribe now and have the latest updates delivered to your inbox. Join our growing community and be part of the buzz!"

© 2026 The Cereal City Buzz.

This publication sponsored by