Thinkers vs. Doers
“If I work 28 years here, I will be able to retire with a super steady retirement plan and will be able to live comfortably for the rest of my life.”
“Won’t you be 51 then? Man, I’m planning on making it big by 27.”
“Not everyone is like you Jun; Not everyone needs to be like that.”
I have surrounded myself with successful people since graduating from UCLA. My philosophy is, “if you surround yourself with successful and motivated people, then you will be successful and motivated as well”. Because of this, I always feel like I’m playing catch up and that I’m far behind where I want to be: I need to be a millionaire by the time I’m 27; I need to have presented at Stanford, Harvard, and MIT by the time I’m 30; I need to have 3 successful startups by the time I’m 35.
I forget that the rest of the world is not like this.
My friend said something to me last night that I will never forget:
“I’m a doer Jun. I like to be told what to do and do it well. I’m not a thinker; I don’t want to have to think about what I have to do.”
I feel it all boils down to fear, fear of the uncertainty, and fear of failing. Later last night, I thought of what I could advise my friend to help him face his fears and break out of the ordinary. These are the 5 steps to becoming a thinker rather than a doer:
1. A complete make over
To change the way you have been living, then you need to change who you are. The first step is to start from the outside and gradually work your way in. Change your clothes, change your hairstyle, change the music you listen to, and change the way you speak. If you want to be a new more entrepreneurial you, then you need to forget the old you.
I say this because it’s always easier to become more confident on the inside when you have first changed your outside to look more confident. When you see how people react to the new you, you feel encouraged on the inside to truly become more confident.
2. Join the conversation
Start surrounding yourself with people who you want to be like. Find these people in person and online. Start a blog to share your ideas and opinions and start a Twitter to follow all the latest news and happenings. Go to events like Mixergy and Twiistup to meet other motivated people who you can join forces with.
My friend currently surrounds himself with people who play stocks and want to purchase property for a gain in the long-run. I surround myself with entrepreneurs and social-medialites who want to build something great now, influence the world around them, and be remembered forever for their accomplishments. If my friend wants to be a “thinker”, then he needs to surround himself with thinkers in order to make that leap.
3. Realize you don’t have to be charismatic
I’m referring to FDTV. My friend says that he could never do a show like this because he doesn’t have the charisma for it.
To be honest, I think I look retarded on video! But, I still do it anyways. I do it because I have content and information that I know I have to share with the world, and video is the best way to do it. I do it because I have to get my name and face out there if I want to build an empire.
Does he or you have to be super energetic and shout at people through the camera? NO! It’s all about being genuine, providing great content, projecting that you are an expert on your topic, and always be willing to help everyone.
Authenticity and generosity are MUCH MORE important characteristics than charisma.
4. Use the fear as fuel
To be honest, staying self-motivated is very difficult. There have been many times when I contemplated quitting because the E-life is so difficult. When that happens, I think of sitting in my cubicle for 50 hours a week. I think about how boring, mundane, and unfullfilling life is when you’re sitting behind your four-doored box without anyway of truly standing out. I think about my parents and how they have sacrificed everything for me to succeed.
I did not let the fear hold me back; instead, I used the fear as fuel to keep me motivated. This fuel runs through my veins and keeps me going even when it seems like we’re near failure. There is no way I will fail; the only way I can truly fail is if I give up.
5. It’s all an attitude
Everything in life boils down to being an attitude. If you want to start your own online show, then all you need is the attitude that this will be the greatest online show of all time. If you want to start a company, then you need to look at yourself in the mirror and decide that today you are an entrpereneur.
People use many different methods to change their attitude in life. Whether it is meditation, religion, a mentor, or a life coach, find what works for you and use it.
I don’t want to force my friend to do anything he doesn’t want to do, but I do hope he reads this so that he realizes that he CAN overcome his fear.
First, I love your goals — I totally want (well, hope) to be that successful by 27 too! And I totally agree that hanging around highly motivated, ambitious people makes you more successful as well.
It’s interesting that you categorize people as thinkers and doers– they sound like leaders and followers to me. Thinkers certainly will make better leaders…
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I actually didn’t come up with the categories, my friend did. But it did make a lot of sense while he was explaining his theory to me.
I wouldn’t necessary call him a “follower,” but he definitely doesn’t like the uncertain and risky.
Lets work hard together to become super successful by 27!!!
- Jun
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Jun -
The theory sounds right, but the categories seem off - I mean for both “thinker-doer” and “leader-follower.”
When I first got into the post, I thought to myself: “I’d rather be a ‘doer’ than a ‘thinker.’ Doing (even when you have incomplete information and make mistakes) is better than just thinking. Thinking is passive.” After I finished the post, however, your train of thought was much clearer.
The truest moment was what you said about authenticity versus charisma. It took me a long time to learn this lesson (in my personal life) and when you believe it and live it to your core, I think it causes dramatically positive changes in your life.
- Chris
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Hey Chris, thanks for the comment.
I agree that it is better to be an implementer and take action, rather than just sit on the sidelines and just think strategy all day; however, this post is not about that.
This post is about thinking for yourself, rather than doing what you’re told.
Charisma is good, but authenticity is much more important than any cheesy smile.
- Jun
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I think, as the economy gets weaker, it’s more important to network with other doers.
Thanks for including my events in that mix!
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Wow, great post Jun! I just recently discovered your website and I think you put great content. Sometimes I consider myself to be quite a doer (although I don’t really like being told what to do!) because I’m afraid I’m not a good enough thinker. But point 1 just kind of slaps me in the face that yeah, if I want to be something I should forget the old me.