You’re Not Frozen...You’re Just Addicted to "Solving" Before Playin' the Game!
There are two types of thinkers when it comes to building something that matters...
🥇 Outcome Thinkers (EGO) This one can get you into a whole lotta trouble if you don't keep your eyes peeled (Look up "The Fearless Mind" by Craig Manning)
🔧 Task Thinkers (ACTION) Step-by-Step
And the magic?
It's not about picking one—it’s knowing when to switch gears.
1. Outcome Thinkers See the Summit
They’ve got that top-of-the-mountain vision.
They can feel the wind up there.
They’ve imagined the speech, the exit, the freedom.
But guess what?
They’re often the ones still talking about the climb...
FIVE YEARS LATER!
Because vision without movement is just spiritual Pinterest.
2. Task Thinkers Take Steps
These are the grinders. The doers.
They’re crossing off checkboxes while the Outcome Crowd is still designing their logo in Canva.
But sometimes?
They forget to look up.
To make sure the ladder they’re climbing is leaning on the right frekkin' wall.
Here’s how I break it down (and this is where it clicks)...
The Mountain & The Steps 🏔️
👉Outcome = Summit
👉Task = Steps
No steps = you never leave basecamp.
No summit = you’re just hiking in circles.
🎬 The Movie & The Script
👉Outcome Thinkers want the Netflix-worthy ending.
👉Task Thinkers are busy writing the next line of the script.
No script = no story.
No story = no one cares about your ending.
🧭 The GPS & The Gearbox
👉Outcome gives you direction.
👉Task gets you moving.
You need to zoom out to see the map, but zoom in to make the turn.
🎂 The Cake & The Ingredients
👉Outcome = The cake on the table.
👉Task = The unsexy stuff like sifting flour.
You don’t get icing without heat.
And no one’s coming to your party for raw eggs and good intentions.
🌊 The Lighthouse & The Rowboat
👉The lighthouse is where you’re going.
👉The oars are how you’re getting there.
Stare at the light too long and you’ll drift.
Row without checking direction and you’ll exhaust yourself in circles.
Now here’s where most folk go limp...
They either:
👍Get addicted to planning (The Mirror Room, remember?)
👍Or they burn out doing random tasks that aren’t tied to a real outcome.
Neither wins.
The ones who actually build something that grows legs are the ones who toggle between the two:
💡 Dream big.
🛠️ Execute small.
🔁 Adjust/pivot often.
Vision isn’t the bottleneck. Execution isn’t either.
It’s the lack of alignment between the two that stalls most people (ask me how I know 👋)
So ask yourself this...
Are you obsessing over the GPS, but sitting in park?
Or rowing like hell with no lighthouse in sight?
Flip the switch.
Build with the end in mind…
And the next brick in hand.
You ready?
Let’s go plant a few empires 😁
It sounds like you’re describing the feeling of spinning your wheels, often caused by misaligned priorities. Like putting the cart before the horse, we sometimes focus on big, flashy results without laying the groundwork first.
Questions to consider:
Are there small but crucial tasks you’re skipping that could make the rest easier?
Are your goals structured in a way that supports step-by-step progress?
Do you notice patterns where you consistently get ahead of yourself?
Discussion:
When we obsess over the outcome (like visuals or performance), we risk ignoring the foundation (like structure or messaging). This creates burnout and stalls progress. Real momentum happens when we respect the order—script before animation, planning before promotion.
Personal Take:
I’ve been there, rushing into the creative stuff while skipping the prep.
But when I focus on building solid basics first, the rest flows easier. Prioritizing process over polish has helped me stay grounded and move forward.
What’s one foundational piece you could lean into right now to clear the jam?
Let me know if you’d like this turned into a reply or worked into a post of your own.
AJ, this hit like a diagnostic tool for a mind burstin’ with creativity!
You’re spot on, so many of us obsess over the flash (the “cart”) while quietly skipping the scaffolding that makes the whole thing move.
And yeah… guilty as charged.
I’ve definitely overinvested in the shiny surface while the engine’s still missing bolts.
What shifted things for me was realizing this…
“The real momentum starts when the unseen parts are dialed in.”
The voice,
The structure,
The unseen systems…
That’s what clears the friction.
And, I love your question about patterns.
For me, anytime I start perfecting before publishing, it’s usually a sign I’ve skipped the foundation.
Or worse, I’m avoiding clarity because clarity forces commitment.
So these days?
I work in layers.
First, the skeleton…
… meat on the bones,
Then the soul.
Then the skin. Keeps me honest—and shippin’
Appreciate how you framed this.
Would love to hear how you catch yourself when you’re starting to decorate the cart before hooking up the horse?
This hit in such a grounded way!
Like a friend reminding you to take a breath and stop trying to microwave a slow roast, it’s wild how often we confuse inaction with failure, when really, we’re just skipping the part where the foundation gets built.
Loved the simplicity and honesty of your perspective.
Do you have any go-to practices for noticing when you’re in ‘cart-before-horse’ mode before it snowballs into frustration?
Ahh Matteo!
That “microwaving a slow roast” line is GOLD.
Exactly that.
I’m totally with you.
It’s wild how fast we label pause as failure when sometimes we’re just in the part of the process where the roots are seeking nutrients underground.
For me…
The biggest tell I’m in cart-before-horse mode is when everything starts to feel heavier than it is (Willie Horton helped me climb that mountain)
Like I’m trying to brute-force progress instead of moving with clarity.
That’s usually my cue to step back and ask:
Wait… “Did I build the container BEFORE tryin’ to fill it?”
Some simple go-to’s?…
– Journaling out what I want the outcome to do for me (identity-wise, not just practically), Craig Manning helped with this hurdle.
– Walking without headphones until the next step floats up
– And asking: “What would this look like if it were easy because I trusted the timeline?”
Anyways…
Appreciate you showing up with this one Matteo.
Slow roast gang, unite : )
In your corner
Dedo (Chief MEME Officer)
Hello!
Thank you for this insightful article, Dedo. Your perspective on the importance of sequencing and aligning our actions with our goals is both refreshing and thought-provoking.
I was particularly struck by your emphasis on the idea that feeling “frozen” often stems from misaligned priorities rather than a lack of capability. It’s a powerful reminder that taking a step back to assess the order of our actions can reignite momentum. I’m curious, how do you personally identify when you’re putting the cart before the horse in your endeavors? Are there specific signs or feelings that alert you to reassess your approach?
Angela M 🙂
Hey Angela
Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection.
Your words genuinely made me smile.
And you’re spot on…
That “frozen” feeling is rarely about lacking ability…
It’s often just a signal that something’s out of sync under the hood.
And when we try to force momentum on top of misalignment, it usually just creates more noise.
For me, the giveaway signs are subtle but familiar, like when everything feels mentally LOUD, but emotionally flat.
I’ll notice I’m trying to solve five things at once, chasing outcomes without a clear through-line.
That’s usually my cue to pause…
Zoom out, and ask…
“What’s the actual first domino here?”
Often, the answer isn’t another task, it’s a reset in rhythm.
Even a small sequence shift can breathe life back into motion.
Really grateful for your insight and curiosity, Angela.
Keep following those breadcrumbs, ’cause they always lead somewhere good.
In your corner
Dedo (Chief MEME Officer)
Hi Dedo!
Your post is such a refreshing take on feeling stuck in business!
I love how you flipped the “frozen” mindset into something actionable by pointing out it’s just about getting the steps in the right order.
The cart-before-the-horse analogy really hit home, especially for someone like me who’s been overthinking marketing moves.
Thank you for sharing this clarity! What’s one quick way you’d suggest someone identify if they’re putting their “cart” before the “horse” in their current strategy? Keep up the awesome insights!
Sincerely,
Steve
Hey Steve!
Man, I appreciate you picking up on that.
BOOM!
You nailed it.
Thing is… most of the time, “stuck” isn’t stuck at all…
It’s just the steps getting tangled.
Bit like trying to pedal a bike with the chain off… no amount of pedaling fixes it until you realign that oily fker!.
As for a quick way to spot if the cart’s leading the horse?
Ask yourself…
“Am I solving a real problem RIGHT NOW, or am I trying to polish the trophy before I’ve even run the race?”
If it feels shiny but shaky, chances are the horse is still looking around, wondering where you’re at.
Thanks again for the good words, Steve…
Means a lot.
Stick around, ’cause we’re just getting warmed up.
In your corner
Dedo (Chief MEME Officer)