Everybody waits for the perfect time. We tell ourselves we’ll start when the stars align, our schedule clears up, or the circumstances feel just right. Many of us get stuck in this waiting game, whether it’s starting a fitness program, launching a new career, going back to school, buying a house, having a child, or starting a business. But here’s the truth: there is no perfect time.
We chase this idea of “perfect timing” because it gives us a false sense of control. But life doesn’t work like that. It’s messy, unpredictable, and full of curveballs. Waiting for everything to be just right is often just fear in disguise—fear of failure, fear of the unknown, or fear of making the wrong move. The cost of waiting? Missed opportunities and regret.
Take starting a fitness program. How often have you told yourself, “I’ll begin on Monday” or “I’ll wait until after vacation”? Days become weeks, weeks become months. Meanwhile, your body, energy, and health aren’t waiting. Starting when you’re 70% ready—maybe with just 20 minutes of walking a day—is infinitely better than waiting until you have the time, money, and perfect gym outfit.
Or consider going back to school. You might say, “I’ll go to college or trade school when things slow down.” But life rarely slows down. Work, kids, bills—they don’t pause. The people who get ahead aren’t the ones who waited until life was easy. They’re the ones who juggled, stumbled, learned, and kept going despite it all. You don’t need all the answers or a flawless plan—you just need the courage to begin.
Even big life choices like having children or buying a home come with uncertainty. Sure, planning matters. But if you wait for a moment when you feel 100% ready, you might wait forever. No one ever feels fully prepared for the challenges and joys of parenthood, or the financial leap of homeownership. But people grow into these roles. They learn on the job. They adapt.
The truth is, being 70% ready and taking action beats being 100% ready and never moving. Progress happens in motion, not in theory.
So take that step. Enroll in the course. Submit the resume. Lace up your shoes and take that walk. Say yes to the opportunity even if you’re unsure where it leads. The most successful people aren’t necessarily the most intelligent or most prepared—they’re the ones who started, learned, and improved along the way.
Life is short. Don’t let perfectionism steal your potential. Your future self won’t thank you for waiting. But they will thank you for starting.
Because sometimes, just doing it—imperfectly, uncertainly, and boldly—is the most perfect timing of all.
