Timing is everything

We tend to focus on the idea as the key to success and forget that timing is critical. When something is done matters as much as what is done.

Parents who are finally ready to pour into their children can realize it's too late after their kids have grown up and left the house.

Retired people put their dreams on hold only to discover they no longer have the physical strength to go out and experience the world fully.

And it's not just moving too late that is the danger. Sometimes the problem is being too early.

Many of my favorite authors--widely acclaimed as the best in their genre--wrote multiple books before publishing their first book. They bluntly share that these first books aren't worth publishing. Rather than quit after a bad book, they honed their style until they had something that would set them apart.

Grocery delivery at home is a major new business sector, but 20 years ago, Webvan tried this, and it was a massive failure because they didn't have any supporting technologies like smartphones and GPS.

 After a lot of thought, I have some tentative principles on timing:

Relationships require a lot of investment up front, then return a great deal for a long time. You can always build your company bigger later. You can't read bedtime stories to your kids after they're grown up.

Explore more in your youth so you are aware of all the options. As you mature, narrow your focus and build deep skills.

When you are trying to succeed in a known space, to stand out from all the others already doing it, then take your time to develop your skills on small stages before going public. Your first impression will matter greatly.

 When trying to succeed in an unknown space, build something new, then move as fast as possible. Learning is accelerated by real-world practice.

Let’s learn from each other. When have you waited too long to act on a good idea? Or, when have you tried to launch, only to discover it was too soon?