Stop Waiting For A Time That May Never Come: The Perfect Time

Recently I came across a Ted Talk video by Guy Kawasaki. In this particular Ted Talk, Kawasaki talks about putting a product out before it's perfect. While he talks strictly product, I think it's applicable to almost every aspect of life.

Quite often, we mask our procrastination with trying to make sure something is "right". That "something" could be: the time, the product, or whatever. With anything, it seems we are content with waiting until we deem something "ready". That time may never come because tomorrow is never promised. Not only that, but it may never come because what if your time now is "the time"? Once "the time" (I use this to reference the infamous time everyone waits on) has passed, who is to say you'll get several other "times"?

Life progression, much like many products, is centered around advancement. You'll rarely have a product that will be absolutely perfect the first time around.  Just like your progression in life won't always be pretty and most certainly won't be perfect.  Knowing perfection isn't attainable, why are we waiting for this perfect time? What exactly is supposed to be perfect about the time?  You'll never have a time where you've perfected life. While there's always going to be good times, the good times don't mean every aspect about life is perfect.  Progression is about continuous growth. So if you ever get to a point where you feel there's no bettering yourself, worry.

So what does this mean to me? Well, a little thing called reaching goals. Whatever your goal is, consider there probably being no "perfect" time to make it a reality.  Obviously there are timeframes with things like marketing (big on timing), financial obligations, and other elements, but we are talking straight dependency on you making your dream a reality without zeroing on outdoor factors.

An example, if you're trying to become a baseball coach, there's no perfect time.  You probably will not wake up one day with a voice in your head like "okay, today is the big day homie". You have to make it your time.  And why not start sooner than later so that you have more time to get better? You have to get out there as is, and grow. Start small like a volunteer coach, then work your way up.

Recently, I had an interesting conversation with someone. They said they wanted to be a homeowner but didn't they think were ready to buy just yet (they weren't talking about from a financial aspect). I'm not one to persuade anyone, but it did spark my curiosity to ask what would make them ready and how they planned on "getting ready". Moving on...

Apple's first few computers were poo (this is one of my favorite words for "shit") and their stock price reflected it. From 1977-1998 it seems like they continuously put out better poo until they finally released a computer that could not only compete with Windows, but dethrone the Windows computer (for at least a year in sales). Apple's story is important. In their quest to perfection, they advanced to a multi-billion dollar company (pushing a trillion I hear). If they waited until perfection, we probably wouldn't use them in this example because we'd still be waiting. Apple exemplifies having faith in your current product, but knowing it can get better and building from there. We laugh at the 40 million updates for iOS and how we have to download one every other day, but there's beauty in continuous progression and growth.

To get back on track, I released my first book in 2014 with minimal grammatical editing. I had faith in the storyline and felt it needed to be told.  The grammar never changed the story being told. Pre-release, I read it several times (and 2 close friends), but of course I read my book as I intended for people to read it, and not necessarily AS it read. Fast forward to a year later.  I was able to afford an editor, and I put it through editing. And although I know it's a rarity a book is perfect with not one grammatical error, I'm okay with knowing it gets better with each editing session. If I was waiting for the perfect book to be released at the perfect time, I wouldn't be 2 books in because Lord knows nothing has been right about anything pertinent to time in my life for the last 3 years.

This post has already went longer than I intended.

In closing, just do it.  I know that sounds cliche, but again: just do it.  Whatever "it" is, just do it. I'm not saying half ass it, and correct it later. I'm saying: give your best effort NOW, and stop waiting on the perfect time.  If you don't meet your mark, continuously find ways to progress.  This is more productive than never getting it done and waiting for a time that may never come.