Waiting for Perfection
When I saw this photo on Pinterest, perfection is the first word that came to my mind. Think about all the things that had to be in place for the photographer to get this amazing shot. The right camera, the right lens, the right location, the right lighting – it all had to be there ready for the big moment to happen.
Lots of challenging work goes into just waiting for perfection. In fact, the thought of “the perfect moment” can be so daunting that we do nothing for fear of failing. As a teacher, author, and businessperson, I am always thinking of ways to prepare myself for opportunities that might be perfect for me.
When I first started my home-based business, always being prepared for an opportunity was not in my skill set. When I was asked to teach a class or give a lecture, I would always be scrambling to get my notes and handouts ready. Sometimes I would be making copies of my handouts up the minute that I walked out the door. How were other speakers/teachers doing this same task and yet they always seemed so much more prepared than me? What did they know that I did not?
So, with the help of the local library, community education classes, and free lectures, I set about learning what I did not know. Take my word for it, I really did not know how much I did not know. The local librarian helped me find the right section and let me check out as all books as I wanted.
After spending hours and hours of late-night reading, business preparedness became my favorite reading material.
I attended community education programs with a very minimal charge. Most of the classes were taught by area businessmen and women who were successful in their fields. There were three of these classes that were so popular they had waiting lists.
Listening to speakers in my field of business was my favorite way to learn. I would try to take as many notes as I could. Making sure to get the contact information from the speaker in case I had unanswered questions at the end of a lecture. One of the speakers that I met became a close friend and mentor.
The one thread that ran through all the diverse types of learning was being prepared. It reminded me of the Bible verses in 1Peter that stated, “and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that in you with meekness and fear.” So, I made a list of actions that needed to happen for me to be prepared. The list was long and seemed overwhelming. But I remembered that one of the books I read had talked about dividing your work time into 15-minute tasks. Set a timer, start the task, and work until the timer alarms. You may not finish one task in 15 minutes, but your progress is measurable.
I set daily, weekly, and monthly goals that were all preparing me for the opportunities ahead. I worked hard to master the limited skills that I had and even harder to master new ones while constantly adjusting my goals. The failures that I had made me incredibly grateful for every small success. I urge all my students and readers to take time to review your goals, whatever they may be. Ask yourself “What are my goals? Where do I need to improve my skills? How can I prepare myself for new opportunities?” When you get the call to provide a lecture, draft an article, or teach a class, will you be prepared to act. Do not let the anticipation of the perfect moment keep you frozen in your tracks. Let it propel you into action.
