JUST DO IT!

{Flashback} It was the summer before my sophomore year in high school when this famous phrase hit the t-shirts and enthusiastic Nike fans of the world. JUST DO IT seemed to ignite the entire planet with passion, determination and enthusiasm!

Brief history of the empowering Nike phrase -
According to Nike company lore, one of the most famous and easily recognized slogans in advertising history was coined at a 1988 meeting of Nike’s ad agency Wieden and Kennedy and a group of Nike employees. Dan Weiden, speaking admiringly of Nike’s can-do attitude, reportedly said, “You Nike guys, you just do it.” The rest, as they say, is (advertising) history. (Read more)

Go ahead, feel the power … say these 3 words out loud (right now) – JUST DO IT! How did that feel? Did you feel the surge of energy sweep through your veins? Me too!

I find many people are happy and excited to wear the t-shirts and say the words but few actually get to the REAL doing! Why is that? Let’s explore for a moment:

First, in order to just do something you have to have a plan of what it is you just want to do!
Second, the plan needs to motivate and excite you. Otherwise, you won’t do anything.
Third, the fear of failing must not stop you!
Fourth, you need a deep belief that what you are doing matters (to you)!
Fifth, you need to BEGIN – Just do it.
Sixth – Every step of the journey is the journey. Believe in the process and who you will become because you dared to DO IT!

Personal CHALK story:
Every year in June, the Uptown Shopping Center holds a Chalk Art Festival in our city. People register and pay for a square/space to draw on the sidewalk. Each participant is entered into their age category and is handed a box of chalk to create their masterpiece. For the past 3 years, I have registered my children and happily sit back and enjoy their art. This year, I decided to JUST DO IT! Why not? Oh it felt good. Something wonderful happens inside of us when we JUST DO IT and LIVE….

The rose. By Wendy :) Chalk Art Festival, 2009

PS: The chalk art story is a simple example but I keep finding that the more we ACT and DO the more we grow and become. Start simple – then keep doing! Each act of action helps us build confidence and momentum to JUST DO the stuff inside of us that is screaming for attention and a chance to THRIVE!

Art by the Christensen Family: Top: Lauren, Rose: Wendy, Panda: Kade

This little moment matters: Write down one thing you will JUST DO today. Now write down why it matters to you. Next, write down what your life would be like if you did it. And finally, JUST DO IT! :)