Finding the Right Time - A Business Myth
Summary
In this episode of the Tilt Podcast, Joel and Jed discuss the common misconception that there is a perfect time to make changes in business and personal life. They emphasize the importance of taking initiative rather than waiting for the right moment, sharing personal experiences and insights on discipline, decision-making, and the balance between work and personal life. The conversation highlights the need for business owners to prioritize their personal goals and well-being to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Keywords
business, perfect time, personal growth, discipline, small business, coaching, change management, work-life balance, decision making, habits
Takeaways
There's never a perfect time to make changes.
Waiting for the right moment can lead to missed opportunities.
Taking initiative is crucial for personal and business growth.
Discipline is about making time for what you enjoy.
You need to stop and assess your situation regularly.
Bad habits can creep in when you're too busy.
Small changes lead to big results over time.
Don't let business dictate your personal life.
Prioritize personal happiness to improve business performance.
The hardest part of any change is just starting.
Chapters
00:00 The Myth of the Perfect Time in Business
03:01 Personal Growth and Taking Initiative
08:21 Discipline: Balancing Work and Personal Life
Is There Ever a Perfect Time?
In business and in life, we often find ourselves waiting for the "perfect time" to make changes or take action. Whether it’s launching a new initiative in your business, hiring staff, or implementing new systems, there's a common trap we all fall into—waiting for that elusive moment when everything will align perfectly. Spoiler alert: it never does.
At Tilt Business Coaching, we’ve seen this time and again, both with our clients and in our own personal journeys. So, let’s dive into why chasing the perfect time is a mistake and how you can take charge of your business and personal life now.
The Myth of the Perfect Time
Jed, who’s been running his own business for over 13 years, sums it up best: there is no perfect time. “If we wait for that perfect time in anything,” he says, “it’s going to pass you by, and you’re going to feel like you missed it.” Jed speaks from experience. A pivotal moment in his own journey came when he burned out eight or nine years ago, waiting too long to hire help and build the systems that would have allowed his business to grow sustainably.
The lesson here is clear: waiting for everything to be just right can lead to paralysis by analysis. You end up in a cycle of indecision, constantly delaying action, and before you know it, you’re playing catch-up instead of staying ahead.
Personal Change Is Business Change
The hesitation to act isn’t limited to business—it shows up in our personal lives, too. Many of us set goals, like exercising more or spending more quality time with family, but we often postpone these changes with excuses: "I’ll start once I get through this busy week" or "I’ll wait until things calm down." Unfortunately, this is where bad habits creep back in, and the cycle repeats.
Jed shared a personal revelation from this year: instead of waiting for time to magically appear, he started taking control of his schedule. He prioritized activities that mattered to him, like playing golf and spending more time with his family, by structuring his time more effectively. His advice? Don’t wait for the perfect time to make changes in your personal life. Be proactive and create the time.
Breaking the Cycle of Bad Habits
The secret to making lasting changes in both business and personal life is recognizing when you’re falling back into old habits. Jed talked about how easy it is to revert to what’s familiar when the pressure is on, like working longer hours or neglecting exercise and health. But he also shared his strategy for snapping out of that cycle: he took a step back, reassessed what was important, and made small but meaningful changes in his routine. This helped him get back on track with his personal goals, which in turn made him a better business owner.
One practical tip that helped Jed was controlling his daily habits and emotions. He crafted a simple daily discipline plan, focusing on things like getting to bed by 9:30 p.m. and making time for exercise. These seemingly small habits had a ripple effect on everything else in his life, from eating healthier to staying mentally sharp at work. As he points out, “If you don’t stop and assess what’s happening and why you feel this way, nothing changes. It gets worse.”
Discipline: Not Just Restriction, But Freedom
When people hear the word "discipline," they often think of it as something restrictive, like giving up the things you love. But as business owners, we know discipline is essential for balance. For Jed, discipline meant allowing himself time to do things he enjoys, like playing golf, without feeling guilty about it. This wasn’t a luxury; it was a necessity for maintaining his mental health and preventing burnout.
The misconception many small business owners have is that running a business means sacrificing all personal joys. But as Jed emphasizes, the purpose of discipline is to create structure, not to feel like a robot. It’s about building habits that make decision-making easier, so you can focus on the bigger picture without overthinking every little step.
Taking Action: Stop Waiting, Start Moving
The biggest takeaway here? You don’t need a major life overhaul to make changes. Often, it’s the small, consistent steps that lead to the most profound transformations in both business and personal life. Start by identifying the habits that are holding you back, then make a plan to gradually replace them with better ones. And don’t wait for that mythical "perfect time"—the right time to act is now.
At Tilt Business Coaching, we often remind our clients: “Don’t let the business dictate to you. Make sure you get your personal goals sorted first.” It’s a balance, and while it’s easy to let work take over, carving out time for yourself will ultimately make you a better business owner and a happier person.
Next week, we’ll dive into the business side of change—how to identify the right time for making decisions, setting yourself up for success, and avoiding the trap of overthinking.
Until then, remember: stop waiting, start moving.
