Written by Karen D. Swim
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” –Abraham Lincoln
Are you standing on the sidelines assessing, reviewing and analyzing or are you suited up and in the game? I’ve got my issues with Abe but the quote above hit me square in the eyes. There are things I wanted to do but waited. I waited for:
- The perfect conditions (they never came)
- More information (which I gathered and never applied)
- Proof that it would work (the proof turned out to be doing nothing equals nothing)
- The perfect me (like that would ever happen!)
My waiting did not make me smarter, or the market more ready for what I had to offer. I would not advise a novice swimmer to jump into the deep end of the pool. But I would tell them to get into the water. Go ahead and start out at the shallow end but for Pete’s sake to learn to swim you gotta get wet!
You could watch other people swim, you can gather information but without actually getting in the water you’re just another schmo on the sidelines getting splashed by the people who had the guts to be in the pool, even at the shallow end.
It’s hump day, and from where I stand, the water is looking good.
Have you ever waited yourself out of an opportunity? What did you learn?
Karen Swim says
@Brad, there is nothing that can make you more trigger happy than the frustration of working in “analysis paralysis” aka Corporate! I still do Ready, Fire, Aim but when it’s brand new territory, I have done the ready, ready, ready…um hello ready? thing too. I’m learning to balance. 🙂
@Melissa, you seem to have the right balance and have learned to trust yourself. Secrets? 🙂
@Matt, Hi! I love your idea of partnering! It is an excellent way to lower the entry point by sharing the task with someone who knows more than you. Not to mention accountability. Great suggestions Matt!
Matt Walker says
thanks karen – agreed! i found that waiting for conditions to be perfect is a long long waiting game. i would add that partnering with others to hold each other accountable and challenge each other to get off the sideline and in the game is an essential tool as well!
keep at it!
Melissa Donovan says
I do wait sometimes, but usually what I’m waiting for is the right time for me. Maybe I’m holding off on a big project because I’m working on something else. Perhaps I’m postponing a business move because I’m studying or learning and building my strategy. But generally, if I have the time, the know-how, and the inclination, I jump right in 😉
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..Writing on the Go
Brad Shorr says
Hi Karen, There are three types of business strategies –
Ready, aim, fire
Ready, fire, aim
Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim …
The first two can succeed, but the last one … maybe because I participated in so much of #3 in the corporate world, I have a knee jerk reaction to #2.
Brad Shorr´s last blog post..How Important Is Google PageRank?
Karen Swim says
@Robert, I won’t answer that last question because I would then be forced to out myself. 🙂 Luckily for you and me it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. lol!
Karen Swim´s last blog post..Why the Shallow End of the Pool is Better than Dry Land
Robert Hruzek says
Alas, you’ve got me on that one, Karen! I tend towards “over-analyzing” things (which is code for too lazy to get goin’) and have often missed an opportunity or two.
It’s true though – at least gettin’ in the pool at all is better than missing it altogether! In fact, that’s the reasoning behind some of my upcoming decisions. Scary – yes! Rewarding – probably!
But like you, I’ve come to realize that more often than not, waiting DOESN’T make me smarter. Who knew? (don’t answer that!)
Robert Hruzek´s last blog post..The Trouble With Trouble