Guy: I’m gonna start writing my book this summer.

Me: It’s January

Guy: Yes it is Julian.

Me: You could get a lot done in 5-6 months.

Guy: Well I’m going to be patient about this. I’m going to go slow. You know, not rush.

Me: So, being patient, as in…do nothing…?

Guy: Well I just got a ton going on.

Me: What if you just started brainstorming and refining your topic? Or began outlining each chapter? Like one hour a day. Five days a week.

Guy: Oh I can’t do that. Once I start I can’t stop.

Me: Wonderful!!

Guy: No I just don’t have time. I’ve got SO much going on right now.

Me: Doesn’t everyone?

Guy: Now is just not the right time.

Me: Not even five hours a week?

Guy: Julian, I am being patient. Don’t condemn me for that.

I think you know what happened next. He never started writing his book. He was a talker. Talkers use many excuses. And the topic of “patience” is one of their favorites. Talkers love boasting about their goals, but look to avoid taking action, so the patience excuse is one of their favorites – it makes them come off as noble and alleviates them of taking action. It gives them such certainty in their reasons to not work on something. If only they had that same belief in their abilities, could they be brilliant.

That guy thought that he was separate from others – as if other people don’t have stuff going on their lives too. He clung to the delusional “now is not the right time” excuse. How many successful people have said there will never be “a right time.” Why would this guy be an exception?

Patience is not waiting. Patience is not “killing time.” Patience is ongoing action.

When you have an injury, what’s going to make it heal faster: doing nothing, or rehabbing it? Rehabbing an injury isn’t passive, it requires continuous action – performing small things that go unnoticed yet make all the difference.

Patience is being wise with how you spend your time from moment to moment.

And that wisdom usually stems from delaying gratification and doing the little things that go unnoticed before the next performance, the next interview, or the next workout. Until the next big moment that everyone sees, it’s time get better behind the scenes.

The best way to recover muscle soreness and be ready for the next workout is not lounging around all day and waiting for time to pass. If maximum recovery is the goal, then the less glamorous actions – stretching, ice baths, foam rolling, active recovery – would be necessary measures to take to be at your best for the next workout.

Patience is about timing.

Letting your emotions cool down instead of reacting in the moment, taking time to learn and study a topic before diving into it, being willing to endure failures in order to succeed.

I believe a patient person is more likely to spot an opportunity. They’ve put in the time and work, they’ve put off quick fixes, and when opportunities come, they recognize and know to capitalize on them.

Patience is knowing the right time to make your move.

As a senior in high school, Lebron James turned down a $10 million shoe deal Reebok had offered him. Coming from the projects, this seemed like an opportunity that would be impossible to turn down. What seemed to be a crazy decision though turned out to be a brilliant one, leading to James signing a $90 million deal with Nike.

An act of patience, but not an active of being passive.  

It’s the impatient person who jumps at every little thing, every fad, every trend, that when a real opportunity comes, they shrink in the moment. They hesitate. They overthink, and in turn, they lose out.

Anticipating your “big break” is a lack of discipline. It’s not to say a person can’t get their “big break” but I can guarantee you it came from intense, hard work – not sitting back and hoping some miracle will manifest, just ‘cause.

Battling impatience is a never-ending thing, and it will only intensify after you begin to have success in your life. Soon enough, there is a stronger temptation to stop learning, to avoid going outside the comfort zone, and come to the toxic conclusion that you’ve “arrived.”

If we risk being impatient, we risk becoming rigid and sticking to the same strategies, the same practices, and same approach that’s worked in the past. It inhibits innovation, creation, and imagination.

Stay patient by focusing on internal growth over external recognition. Instead of measuring your progress based on what everyone sees on the outside, evaluate yourself by how actively you’re taking action with the less glamorous tasks that go on behind the scenes.

Principle: Be in a constant flow of action.

Patience is making the most of your time. Waiting, do nothing, is making the least of your time.

Some type of action can always be taken. It usually involves the tiny, unglamorous actions that go behind the scenes. This, however, separates the people who have a hobby, from the people who are on a mission.

Patience is what will keep you engaged during times when it seems like you’re not making progress. When a person’s health becomes stagnant, when the agents keep rejecting them, when their fitness seems to have plateaued, the impatient person ends up becoming frustrated because they’re not “seeing” any progress on the outside, and inevitably has a breakdown.

The patient person instead turns inward and focuses on what small actions can they take to get better. They evaluate their progress on how aggressively they’re pursuing their goals. The patient person never assumes they “deserve” some big break. They never fall into the “if it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen” delusion. The patient person is wise with how they spend their time from moment to moment.

There’s going to be times where you feel like you’re in a drought – seemingly making zero progress no matter how hard you’re trying. Instead of associating being patient with waiting, take it as a sign to turn inward and focus on actions you can take. Maybe that’s refining your system for productivity. Perhaps it means improving nutrition to give you sustained energy on your goals throughout the day. Or it could mean identifying tasks you spend a lot of time on but aren’t really that important. The possibilities are endless.

The impatient person chooses to be passive, which inevitably leads them to a breakdown. The patient person chooses to be active, and in turn, they experience a breakthrough. Which would you rather be?

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Using the “now isn’t the right time” excuse.
• Jumping on every little fad, quick fix, or trend.
• Only using strategies that have worked in the past.

Key Takeaways:

• Patience is ongoing action.
• The root of being patient is delaying gratification.
• Patience is knowing the right time to make your move.

Taking Action:

When your progress seems to plateau, focus on areas where you can take action and move toward your goals. Return to the 80/20 rule, how you spend your routine and any habits that work against you.