I Know What I Need To Do… So Why Am I Not Doing It?
- Fran Ash
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
This is something I hear all the time. “I know what I need to do… I’m just not doing it.” And it’s usually said with a bit of frustration, sometimes even guilt, like it’s something they should have figured out by now. But the truth is, this isn’t a lack of knowledge.
Most business owners I speak to already have a good idea of what they need to be doing. They’re not short of ideas, and they’re not sitting there wondering what the next step could be.
The gap isn’t knowledge. It’s something else.
It’s Not That You Don’t Know… It’s That Something’s Getting in the Way
When you strip it back, there’s usually a reason you’re not taking action - even if you can’t quite put your finger on it straight away.
Sometimes it’s overthinking. You go round and round in your head, trying to work out the “best” way to do something, and end up not doing anything at all.
Sometimes it’s doubt. You’re not sure if it’s the right move, or whether it’s going to work, so you hold back.
And sometimes, if we’re being really honest, it’s the fear of putting yourself out there and it not going the way you hoped.
So instead of taking that step, you stay where you are.
Not because you want to… but because it feels safer.
Being Busy Can Look Like Progress (Even When It Isn’t)
This is where it links back to something a lot of business owners experience.
You’re still doing things. You’re still showing up. Your days are still full.
So it feels like you’re moving forward.
But the thing you keep saying you’re going to do? That still isn’t happening.
And over time, that creates this quiet frustration in the background. Because deep down, you know you’re capable of more - you’re just not quite getting there.
The Longer You Leave It, The Heavier It Feels
What starts as “I’ll do that later” slowly turns into something bigger.
It sits in the back of your mind. It pops up when you’re trying to switch off. It becomes that thing you keep circling back to but never quite tackling.
And the longer it stays there, the harder it feels to start.
Not because it’s actually harder, but because it’s built up in your head.
You Don’t Need More Information - You Need Movement
A lot of people respond to this feeling by trying to learn more.
Another podcast...Another webinar...Another bit of research...
Hoping that something will click and suddenly make it easier to take action.
But most of the time, that’s not what’s missing. What’s missing is movement.
Even a small step forward is often more valuable than another hour of thinking about it.
This Is Where Support Makes a Real Difference
Trying to do this on your own can keep you stuck in that same cycle for longer than you realise.
Because when it’s just you, it’s very easy to:
talk yourself out of things
push things back
convince yourself you’ll do it “next week”
But when you’ve got someone alongside you - someone who understands what you’re trying to do, who can sense-check things with you, and who gently keeps you accountable - it changes the dynamic completely.
It’s not about pressure.
It’s about having that steady support that helps you move forward, even when you’re unsure.
Taking Action Doesn’t Have to Feel Overwhelming
One of the biggest shifts I see is when things stop feeling like this big, heavy task that you’ve been avoiding. Instead, they become something manageable.
Something you can actually start.
Because often, it’s not the action itself that’s the problem - it’s how big it’s become in your head.
If You’ve Been Stuck in This Loop for a While
It might be time to look at it differently.
Not from a place of “why am I not doing this?” But from a place of “what would help me actually move this forward?”
Because you don’t have to keep going round in circles with it.
Ready to Start Taking Action?
If you’re tired of sitting on ideas and want to start actually moving things forward, this is exactly the kind of thing I support with.
We take what’s been stuck in your head, break it down into something manageable, and most importantly - we follow it through.
You don’t have to do it on your own.
If that sounds like what you need, you can find out more here: Work With Me
Or start here: Business Mentor vs Business Advisor whats the difference?
