Is it Time Yet?

I’ve just noticed some flowers blooming in a pot outside our house. It’s February. My first thought was “This is wrong, it's too early” but then I imagined the flowers asking “Is it time yet?” as they waited for the good weather so they could poke their little heads out. If you know me, you’ll know I rarely miss an opportunity to use my imagination, or a chance to make an analogy to modern life and business.

We often notice what’s wrong before seeing what’s right. I think that’s a habit, and unresourceful habits can be exchanged for more resourceful ones. And there still may be times when you need to stop and reframe your first thought.

The more I began to think about the question “Is it time yet?”, the more I felt we should be able to answer that question ourselves. Looking outside for validation is another habit that we’ve been conditioned to adopt. There’s always someone else who knows more, so it makes sense to turn to them for clarity.

However, some dilemmas cannot be resolved by anyone other than the person going through it.

I don’t know about you, but in the past I have bought products and joined programs as a result of other people’s encouragement or peer pressure. I’ve also procrastinated over opportunities with unknown results, while waiting for someone else to say whether or not the time was right. I’m not a big procrastinator now, but I certainly had that tendency in the past.

Do you have an opportunity in front of you, but you’re asking whether the time is right? Take yourself away (even just to another room) and do some quiet thinking before seeking the advice of anyone else. Thoughtful leaders notice when they need to step back and ask themselves an important question. Especially a question about timing. If you feel you need to blossom now, regardless of the season, go for it. I look forward to seeing the results!