To wait, or not to wait?

That is a question that faces most businesses. Wait to grow? Wait to launch? Wait to create? And yet, it is waiting that kills many businesses.

I had a client, let’s call him Mr. Balloon, whose business imploded because of waiting. He was extremely business savvy, yet got caught in the Vortex of Inaction.

His purpose for bringing me in was to grow the business. But as we worked together, it became clear that he wasn’t ready. He knew exactly what he needed to do to grow the business, but there was always a reason for not getting started. For instance, he wanted to overhaul his website. But before he could do that he had to get some professional photos of products taken. But before he could do that he needed to finish a services trade with a photographer. But before he could do that he had to sit down and decide what his product offerings were going to be. Before that he had to finish taxes for this year. But couldn’t do that until the year was over… and on and on.

It seemed that no matter what needed to be done, it couldn’t because something else took priority.

Maybe you too have a list of to-do’s, but you’re waiting for something. What to do?

1. Let’s start with a tough question. “What’s REALLY holding you back?”
What are you trying to avoid? It’s not on that endless list you’ve created. This can only be answered from within. And to cut right to the quick, it’s probably some fear that you have inside. Fear of success, fear of failure. Take a moment to quietly reflect on what your fear is, and why you’re letting it hold you back.

2. Your plan: Write it down. Implement it.
This should be part of your business plan. Writing it down makes it concrete. I mean, how committed are you if you won’t even write it down? Writing it down also lets others know you’re serious — trust me, they’ll respond.

Don’t wait for it to be perfect!
Don’t detour if you found a better solution!

Deliver what you say, when you say. Adjust along the way. If you wait until a product is perfect before releasing it, it will probably never get released, because there are always improvements to be made.

But use this to your advantage. Whatever your product is, it’s a step up from what your purchasers were using before. And while they are using it and loving it, you are creating the improved version.

More benefits to not waiting:
1. the income from sales funds your future creations,
2. create fans and future buyers,
3. increase your exposure by word-of-mouth (aren’t fans great?)

So, the moral of the story is: Don’t wait. Never wait. Always be in some form of action (planning, designing, implementing)

Happy business building!
The iTeam

Define procrastination: putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time. Or in other words, stall tactics