017 The Hidden Cost of Waiting
Waiting for the "perfect moment" to start a new project is an expensive form of self-sabotage that drains your confidence and integrity. True clarity and growth are only found through consistent action and "reps," not endless research or planning.
Why Waiting is the Most Expensive Choice You Can Make
Have you ever looked back at an idea you had years ago and thought, "Man, if I would have just started then?"
That was me. Back in May 2021, during a leadership offsite, my mentor asked our group a piercing question: "What’s the one thing you feel the pull to do but aren’t doing?"
My answer was immediate: I knew I needed to start a podcast, a YouTube channel, or a blog. The stirring was real. The vision was there. But instead of hitting record, I waited. I overthought. I told myself I wasn’t ready.
The result? I spent nearly five years in a holding pattern.
Today, I want to talk about the high cost of "waiting for the right time" and why the only way to find clarity is to just ship it.
What are you waiting for?
Looking back, I had a great foundation in 2021. I had established morning routines, a regular fitness habit, and people were already coming to me for advice. So why the hesitation?
The Perfectionism Trap: I didn't want to fail. I wanted whatever I produced to be excellent from day one.
Subconscious Doubt: Voices in my head whispered that nobody would care, it was a waste of time, or I needed "more credibility" before I could teach.
The Logic Loop: As an analytical person, I justified doing nothing by telling myself I needed to learn more about the technical side—the right microphones, the right software, the right strategy.
Oof. It’s crazy how we can convince ourselves that doing nothing is the "responsible" choice because we want to do a "good job."
The Hidden Cost of "Safe"
Waiting feels safe, but it is actually incredibly expensive. Here is what those five years cost me:
Impact: How many people went unhelped because I was too busy worrying about my microphone setup?
Momentum: I missed the massive "boom" in podcasting growth during 2020 and 2021 because I was stuck in analysis paralysis.
Self-Trust: A friend once told me I had "crummy integrity with myself" because I kept moving the goalposts. Every time you promise yourself you’ll start and then don't, you erode your own confidence.
Information Gain: Neuroscience tells us that "future you" is often processed by the brain as a stranger. When we procrastinate, we aren't just delaying a task; we are handing a burden off to a person we don't even recognize as ourselves.
How to Finally Start (The "Reps" Principle)
So, what changed? How did I get to Episode 17? I realized that I didn't need more time—I needed more action.
I follow two major frameworks to keep moving:
1. Just Ship It
Seth Godin’s famous mantra is simple: Ship it. You will learn more through the act of doing than you ever will through researching. You have to release the "1.0" version of yourself to ever get to the "2.0" version.
2. Quantity Leads to Quality
In Atomic Habits, James Clear shares a story about a photography class. One half was graded on quantity (taking 100 photos), and the other on quality (producing one perfect photo).
The result? The "quantity" group produced the best work because they were busy putting in the reps, experimenting, and learning from mistakes. The "quality" group just sat around theorizing about perfection.
It’s about reps, not the perfect shot.
My Challenge to You
What is your "May 2021"? What is the one thing you know you should be doing, but doubt is standing in your way?
Maybe you don't need to launch the whole business today. Maybe you just need to "put on the shoes." James Clear suggests starting with a habit so small it’s impossible to fail—like just putting on your gym shoes even if you don't go to the gym yet.
Just start. Start today.
Don't wait for Monday. Don't wait for the new year. The world needs your unique gifts and perspective. Let’s get after it.
Daily anything changes everything.
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Resources:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Practice by Seth Godin
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