Why Waiting Costs More Than You Think

byNicholaJames

11.5K followers

2 months ago

Quote of the Day: “You may delay, but time will not.” Benjamin Franklin

I remembered at the beginning of this year, I said that I will get my security license in three months… three exams in three months to be fully licensed. You already know how the story goes. Three months went by and I did nothing. However, I did begin and completed the course work up to the final five quizzes before the final practice exams before I take the first of three exams to get my license.

Sadly, I dropped the ball and then a month or two went by and I remained stuck. Not only that, it was the eighth month of the year and I was off work but I did nothing to get the job done in the month of August nor did I get it done in the month of September.

However, here I am right now in the month of October. Today, I am setting my goals and creating a plan to become fully licensed by December 31, 2025. No ifs, ands or buts! Just do it! This experience taught me a tough but valuable truth behind Benjamin Franklin’s words: “You may delay, but time will not.”

Unfortunately, time does not wait for any of us. It does not care about our fears, our uncertainties, or our long lists of “good reasons” to wait. While we are hesitating, time keeps moving. And in business, that can be a very expensive mistake. More importantly, here is the tricky part, delay does not always look like delay. Sometimes, it wears a disguise. It looks like “research.” It looks like “planning.” It even looks like “waiting for the perfect moment.” But if we are spending all our time preparing and none of it executing, we are not preparing, we are stalling.

As a matter of fact, the world moves fast. Technology changes, markets shift, and opportunities evolve. The windows we have today might not be open tomorrow. However, that does not mean we should rush blindly into everything. It means that action beats hesitation almost every time.

Here are a few practical ways to stop delaying and start doing:

1. Start small, but start now. You do not have to launch a perfect product or write a flawless plan. Do one small thing today that moves you closer to your goal.
   
   2. Set deadlines for yourself. Deadlines create accountability. Without them, tasks drift endlessly. Write it down, give it a date, and commit to it.
   
   3. Focus on progress, not perfection. Perfectionism is often just fear wearing a nice suit. The truth is, you can improve only after you begin.
   
   4. Recognize the cost of waiting. Every day you delay, someone else is taking action, learning, and moving ahead. Let that motivate you, not discourage you.
   
   5. Make time your partner, not your enemy. Use it wisely. Plan your days around what matters most instead of letting time slip away through distractions.

In closing, here is the thing, time does not slow down just because we are not ready. It keeps moving, silently and steadily. Whether we use it or lose it is entirely up to us.

Finally, the next time you find yourself saying, “I’ll do it later,” remember this, later is not a time on the calendar. It is a trap that steals your opportunities. Start today. Because time is not waiting, and neither should you. Now, my question to you is; are you using your time wisely or is it costing you more than you think?

I appreciate your time, comments and likes.

To our success

Kind regards,

Nichola