When Odysseus set out for Ithaca, he wasn’t simply going home. He wasn’t making a decision to get from point A to point B. No, his journey was an ongoing series of improvisations and calculated risks, a venture through chaos that only someone with a sharp mind and a stomach for uncertainty could endure. It’s tempting to see his voyages as linear—he had a goal, and he moved toward it. But if we really dive into it, we see something more interesting: a pattern of action amidst the absurdity of life.
The key isn’t in waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. It’s in taking action despite uncertainty—not because of it.
1. Small, Strategic Steps: The Unseen Power of Momentum
When we’re sailing the seas, confronted by monsters and the unknown, it’s easy to get caught up in the enormity of the journey. But if Odysseus had tried to take on the entire voyage at once, he’d still be lost at sea. Instead, he navigated step by step, confronting one challenge at a time. He never thought in terms of “success” or “failure”—he thought in terms of immediate next moves. And he had a clear goal – going home.
When it comes to action, we tend to want the whole thing. The whole business. The great life. The entire perfect execution. But here’s the truth: we’ll never get there if we try to plan the entire journey at once. Focus on what’s in front of us. The first step. The next step.
Action: Tackle the smallest task today that will push your project forward. It doesn’t need to be grand. It just needs to be done.
2. The 5-Second Decision: Drown the Noise
In Odysseus’ world, hesitation was often a death sentence. In our world, hesitation is a productivity killer. It’s the exact moment when you’re faced with two competing impulses: the urge to move forward and the instinct to stall. The 5-second rule from Mel Robbins is about silencing the noise and taking the leap—no questions asked.
Think about the times when we’ve spent hours deliberating. It’s not clarity that we lack; it’s action. What is it we’re waiting for, exactly? The stars to align? The world to make sense? Let’s be real: nothing ever makes sense. Acting quickly isn’t a flaw—it’s an edge.
Action: The next time we hesitate, let’s count 5-4-3-2-1 and make the decision. Then do it.
3. The Power of Deadlines: Constraints Breed Creativity
If you think of Odysseus’ journey, he was often on a ticking clock. The sirens, the cyclops, the gods—all had their own deadlines. So, what does he do? He adapts. In the face of pressure, constraints breed a certain kind of creativity—a kind that doesn’t thrive in comfort.
The deadline is your friend. The longer we put things off, the more the task looms as an abstraction. When we have a clear deadline—no matter how tight—it forces the hand. We don’t have the luxury of overthinking. We execute. We adapt. We fail, and we recover. Because that’s all there is.
Action: Set a hard deadline. Whatever it is we’re putting off, commit to having it done by tomorrow, today, or within an hour. Get it done—no excuses.
4. Public Accountability: The Invisible Anchor
The gods weren’t always in Odysseus’ corner, but his men were. Accountability was his tether when things were falling apart. In the modern world, it’s easy to think we can go it alone. But here’s the thing: we can’t. Not really.
Humans are social creatures, and when we make our goals public, when we announce them, we tie ourselves to a larger network of expectation. It’s uncomfortable, yes, but it’s a force multiplier. If Odysseus had set out without a single crew member, would he have ever survived the journey?
Action: Tell someone about what you’re about to do. Not to ask for permission, but to hold yourself accountable. Check in when the first step is done.
5. Isolation: The Art of Getting Lost to Find Your Path
Here’s a paradox for you: sometimes, the only way to find your path forward is to remove yourself from the noise. Distraction is the enemy of action. Whether it’s the constant ping of your phone or the ever-encroaching demands of the outside world, these things dilute your mental bandwidth and hold you hostage to mediocrity.
Odysseus, at his core, was a master of focused isolation. When needed, he took moments of solitude to recalibrate his strategy, whether he was on a ship navigating the seas or on a mountain alone.
Action: Find a quiet space—physically and mentally. No phone, no internet, no distractions. Focus on the task at hand for a set period of time.
6. Perfection: The Myth of the Ideal Outcome
There’s no such thing as perfect timing. Odysseus wasn’t waiting for a divine sign to make a move; he just moved. Perfectionism is the modern-day equivalent of procrastination—and it’s as dangerous as any of the creatures Odysseus faced.
Waiting for the “perfect moment” to act is, in a way, a form of paralysis. Perfection is the enemy of progress. It’s not about waiting for the conditions to align. It’s about starting in the chaos and improving along the way.
Action: Stop looking for the perfect scenario. Start, and adapt as you go. Let the imperfections teach you.
The Real Voyage
We all have our Ithacas, our end goals, but the journey—like Odysseus’—is messy, unpredictable, and often feels like one setback after another. The true test is whether we keep moving forward in spite of the chaos. Taking action isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning to navigate it with purpose.
So, what’s your next voyage?
ShapingTides 