Seven Reasons Not to Wait

Written by Leigh Martinuzzi – Originally Published 20.11.2014

Have you ever sat waiting for a bus that never comes?

How long before you act, change plans, attempt to solve the problem you face? Or do you simply continue to wait?

If you’re waiting for things to happen in life you may be waiting for a very long time. It is our responsibility to create the change we wish to see, both in ourselves and in the world. No one else will do it for us. The outcomes we desire, the impact we wish to have in the world will come in acting, not in waiting.

There is never a perfect time to start other than now. Procrastination is a bitch but try not to. One technique that I find useful is counting down, 3, 2, 1, go – and just start. I’m mindful that there is sometimes more to procrastination than simply that but a handy trick for getting started on those small goals and actions.

535 Leigh Martinuzzi – 7 Rules To Avoid Procrastination

Do you remember the old saying, “Ready, aim, fire?” I am sure you do. What many successful people and self-helpers now promote is the saying, “Ready, fire, aim.”

What this suggests to me is that we don’t need to wait for our ducks to be in a row before we begin. The plan doesn’t need to be perfectly laid out before we fire, we just need to be ready. It is better to start and realign ourselves as we proceed.

The issue for most of us is that we want things to be perfect before we start. Nothing will ever be perfect so stop kidding yourself and just jump in. The more I read of the success stories of those who have achieved wealth or altruistic feats the more I find them following this formula.

Why do we wait? One is fear. The fear associated with failure, shame, rejection, or embarrassment, the fear of moving beyond our comfort zone. The fear of success.

We wait out of laziness. Not willing to put in the hard yards to do what it takes. We wait in hope and hope is never a good business strategy and nor is it a good life strategy.

I will wait until I am older. I will wait until I am healthier. I will wait until I am thinner. I will wait until I am more confident. I will wait until I have more money. I will wait until I get the new car or meet the perfect girl.

What are you willing to wait for? I will wait for (fill in the blank).

“Everybody wants to be a beast until it’s time to do what beasts do.” ~ Eric Thomas

Seven Reasons Not to Wait

1. You won’t get to where you want to go while waiting.

Let’s be honest, by sitting around waiting for things to happen won’t get you any closer to where you want to go. Yes sure, luck can happen however for me it doesn’t happen too often. And while you wait for all the good luck there is also its cousin, bad luck.

Those who continually act, putting in the preparation and hard work are more prone to good luck. Those that don’t, those that wait, are more prone to bad luck.

“If your ship doesn’t come in, then swim to it’.

If you know what you want, even if you may prove yourself wrong after acting go for it. Vision it. Smell it. Taste it. Hear it. Don’t wait, get it!

2. Do not wait for others.

Don’t spend your life waiting for others. I am big on this rule. I am impatient, occasionally this is a weakness. Too impatient to wait in line for lunch so I skip lunch only later to find myself starving and a bit grumpy. Although I never recommend waiting in line for anything unless it’s really important.

However, on the upside, it means I don’t waste time waiting for others. This may sound selfish. Sometimes it is but being selfish is partly our human nature. Yet so is being compassionate. There are times when I wait out of compassion.

Sometimes we have to wait out of self-compassion. I couldn’t wait to finish school. I can’t wait to figure out exactly what I will do with my life. This might sound a bit contradictory but sometimes we need time. Sometimes we need to give others time. However, it is not time waiting. It’s time used exploring, sharing or helping. It is time used with purpose.

The action required to achieve the change you desire will not happen by waiting for someone else. This is often just an excuse. Stop waiting and act yourself.

3. We miss out on opportunities while we wait.

Waiting for things to come to you likely means that you are not really creating the path towards where you want to go. If you start out in pursuit of what you think you desire many opportunities will present themselves along the way, in action.

Similar to the law of attraction, what you set out to attain, what you visualise and focus on, in action, attracts more of the right opportunities to you.

Wake up, show up and give it your 100% every day. Doors will open.

4. Regret results from in action and waiting.

We will all live in regret at some stage, as we put off doing things out of fear, laziness or just being busy. And sometimes moments and opportunities will slip by. By getting involved and doing what you desire, even if it doesn’t work out as planned, even if it fails, is much better than doing nothing at all.

There is nothing worse than wondering “what if?”

What if I just asked the question?

What if I just went to that event?

What if I just said yes?

It is better to know “what if” than not knowing what could have been. And we will never know what could have been by waiting.

Don’t wait for death to celebrate life.

5. Waiting can make us frustrated, angry and dissatisfied.

If you spend your life in hope, waiting, waiting, waiting for things to happen you may be crushed when nothing does. This can lead to a wide array of debilitating and undesirable emotions.

We must take responsibility for our lives. We must act.

If the bus doesn’t arrive then take the initiative and walk. Catch a taxi. Call the bus company and find out what the delay is. If necessary, hitchhike. if. Do not wait.

No one cares more truly about where you want to go in life than you. Own it!
If you are happy to wait, be content with your decision and don’t complain.

Avoid placing blame and instead use the time wisely to identify how best to make your next move.

6. When waiting we give opportunities and luck to others.

There is such thing as luck, however, it’s sporadic, unpredictable, and a terrible strategy of success. There are people who win the lotto and make major riches in a very short time. Majority of those people don’t know how to manage their new-found fortune and find their lives return to as they were before.

The wealthy or successful don’t rely on luck they create it! They work hard. They don’t sit around waiting. They focus on taking action.

The successful may seem to have all the luck in the world and many of them would probably agree. As Seneca, a Roman Stoic Philosopher, wrote, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

The successful are just ready, prepared and in action and so, while we wait, and the luck passes us by, they are there to grab onto it.

7. Growth and progress will not happen for those that wait.

Personal growth is achieved in action. When we step outside our comfort zone we progress. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Expecting progress in doing nothing is insanity.

We will never realise our full potential and life’s possibilities if we sit around waiting. Growth occurs in experience and experience comes in action. When we grow, we learn and those learning then applied to knew action creates success.

Success in life is whatever you want it to be. Take ownership of that. Know that we have control over our destiny.

Choose yourself.
Choose success.
Choose freedom.
Choose Happiness.
Choose not to go on waiting.

Leave your thoughts, comments and questions below. Reach out directly by email of social media. Peace, Passion & Purpose.

Further Reading and Resources

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The Minimalists: How to pursue a minimalist lifestyle and be happier.

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Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocat

The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.

American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United Stat

The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.

Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.