Story of the Week
The Myth of Perfect Timing
Here's what I've learned after 17 years in business: There is no “right” time. There are only opportunities and the people brave enough to seize them.
Every successful person I know started before they felt ready:
- I launched my first course with zero teaching experience
- My friend Amy Porterfield left her corporate job without a business plan
- Lewis Howes started his podcast in his sister's closet with a $100 microphone
None of us waited for perfect conditions. We started with what we had and figured it out along the way.
The Real Cost of Waiting
While you're waiting for the "right time," here's what's actually happening:
- Your Competition is Moving: Every day you delay, someone else is taking action. They're building relationships, gaining experience, and capturing market share that could have been yours.
- You're Losing Momentum: Inspiration has an expiration date. The longer you wait, the more your initial excitement fades. What feels urgent today becomes optional tomorrow.
- You're Missing Learning Opportunities: The real education happens when you're in the game, not on the sidelines. Every day of action teaches you more than a month of planning.
- Your Confidence is Eroding: Each day you don't act reinforces the story that you're not ready. This creates a vicious cycle where waiting makes you feel less prepared, not more.
The Action Advantage
When I finally launched that study guide, something magical happened. Not just the sales — though those were nice — but the confidence that came from proving to myself I could do it.
That first success led to the second, then the third. Each action built momentum for the next one.
Action creates clarity. You can't steer a parked car, but once you're moving, course corrections become possible.
Action builds confidence. Every small win proves you're more capable than you thought.
Action attracts opportunities. People want to work with doers, not planners.
The Preparation Trap
Don't get me wrong — preparation has its place. But most of us use it as a sophisticated form of procrastination.
We tell ourselves we need:
- More research
- Better timing
- More money
- Perfect conditions
- Complete certainty
Here's the truth: You'll never have complete information. You'll never feel 100% ready. The conditions will never be perfect.
The most successful people aren't those who wait for certainty — they're those who act despite uncertainty.
The 48-Hour Rule
Here's a simple framework I use to break the preparation trap:
When you have an idea or opportunity, give yourself 48 hours to take one concrete action toward it.
Not to complete it. Not to perfect it. Just to start.
- Write the first paragraph
- Record the first video
- Send the first email
- Make the first call
This breaks the inertia and gets you moving. Once you're in motion, staying in motion becomes easier.
What You're Really Afraid Of
Let's be honest about what's really holding you back. It's not a lack of preparation — it's fear.
Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of success. Fear of the unknown.
These fears are normal and human. But they're also the price of admission to anything worthwhile.
The question isn't how to eliminate fear — it's how to act despite it.
Every successful person I know still feels fear. The difference is they've learned to use it as fuel rather than letting it be a brake.
Your Turn: The Action Challenge
Right now, as you're reading this, I want you to think of one thing you've been putting off. One project, one conversation, one decision you've been "preparing" for.
Here's your challenge:
- Identify the smallest possible first step you could take today
- Set a timer for 25 minutes and take that step
- Schedule the next small step for tomorrow
Don't aim for perfection. Aim for progress.
Remember: The cost of inaction is always higher than the cost of imperfect action.
What will you start today?
