Are You Being Patient, or Are You Procrastinating?

The problem is that from the outside, they can look exactly the same.

You haven’t started. You haven’t made the call. You haven’t submitted the application. You haven’t written the first page. You haven’t had the conversation.

And the explanation sounds reasonable: “I’m just waiting for the right time.”

I’ve said versions of that myself. But while writing this week’s G.R.O.W., I realized I needed to ask myself a harder question: Am I actually waiting for the right time, or am I waiting to feel less afraid?

Those aren’t the same thing.

Patience has a reason

Sometimes waiting makes sense. You may need more money. Your family may need your attention. You may need training. There may be information you genuinely don’t have yet. The opportunity itself may not exist yet.

That’s patience. You’re not avoiding action. You’re recognizing that something needs to happen first.

Procrastination has an excuse

This one is harder for me. I’ve wanted to write a book for some time. I could give you plenty of reasons why it isn’t finished. I’m busy. I run a nonprofit. I have other responsibilities. I write G.R.O.W. every week.

All of those things are true. But there’s another truth underneath them. Sometimes I question whether I’m a strong enough writer.

That’s different. More time won’t necessarily solve that problem. Neither will another month of thinking about the book. At some point, I’ll have to write.

Here’s a test I’m using

1. What specifically am I waiting for? Don’t answer “the right time.” Name the actual condition that needs to change.
2. Is that condition outside my control, or am I using it to protect myself from discomfort? Be careful here. We can make fear sound very reasonable.
3. What could I do today without making the entire commitment? You don’t have to quit your job to explore another career. You don’t have to run a marathon to start running. You don’t have to launch a company to talk with your first potential customer.

And apparently, I don’t have to finish a book today. I just need to start writing it.

Your turn

Think about the thing you’ve been saying you’ll do “someday.” Now finish this sentence:

I’m waiting to __________ because __________.

Read your answer. Is the second blank a legitimate reason to wait? Or is it fear dressed up as patience?

Only you know the answer. But once you know it, you have a decision to make.