Now Is the Time to Act

Stop waiting for the “perfect time” to take a risk, and start moving toward your dream now

Taking a big risk is not exactly easy. That’s why a lot of dreamers try to justify putting off taking the first steps toward their goals: “I’m not financially ready.” “I have a lot going on with family right now.” “The thought of taking a big step is just too daunting right now.”

The truth is, there will never be a perfect time to take the leap. Learn how to stop making excuses with these bits of guidance.

There will always be stress

There will always be things keeping us busy, whether social outlets, family obligations, education opportunities, books to read, movies to watch, people to call; the things that stress us out are pretty endless.

That’s why there’s no time like the present to start something big. If you wait to act for another ten years, you’ll still have to figure out how to manage it all, right? So why not now?

Think about what’s really holding you back. Is it your friends and family, your responsibilities, or is it you?

There will never be enough money

Another excuse people like to make to put off starting a business or venturing off on their own is money. They feel that they have to have enough funds for a lifetime saved up before they’re willing to take a risk.

While it’s important to have a cushion to protect yourself and your future business, recognize that there may never be a high enough number that will make you truly comfortable to take the leap.

Figure out exactly how much you need in an emergency fund for at least a few months’ salaries. Once you have that, begin your next move.

There’s always something to save money for. And there are plenty of ways to continue to save money even while you are taking a big risk. Stop letting money get in the way of you living your life in the present.

Be comfortable with being uncomfortable

Part of earning your success is working hard. Maybe you’re afraid to quit your day job and start your business because it seems like such an intimidating task. Whereas now, you’ve gotten used to your coworkers, going to work every day, receiving that steady paycheck – regardless of how depressed it makes you sit in a cubicle for 40 hours a week.

Successful people recognize that they’ll have to be uncomfortable to reach their goals. It’s not easy work to start something you believe in, keep it running, and eventually see a big payoff. It’s risky, and that might make you uncomfortable.

But so what? Start being comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’ll start to push yourself harder and will set yourself apart from your peers. Because most people don’t want to be uncomfortable, and as such, avoid risk their entire lives. They fail to challenge themselves and start to wonder why they’ve never done anything great.

It’s never too late

Another excuse for failing to act is that people think their time has passed. Perhaps they reach middle age and think that they aren’t relevant anymore, that their ideas wouldn’t resonate with younger audiences.

Or maybe dreamers have started a family, and feel that quitting their day job wouldn’t be the most responsible decision.

These are just excuses that hold us back. It’s actually never too late to take a risk and start working toward your dream. While it may seem overwhelming to think of starting a new career from scratch, after years of working to get you where you are today, remember that we only get one shot at life. What do you want yours to look like? What do you want to be remembered by?

While you or your family’s finances may be tight for a couple of months after you leave a job, think of how inspiring it will be to your children to have seen you working hard toward a goal, instead of just staying still, staying comfortable with an ordinary life.

Trust your gut

Finally, make sure you aren’t suppressing your true desires. We tell ourselves all of the justifications above to reassure ourselves that we’re doing the right thing by staying still. But is that really what your gut is saying?

If you’re a dreamer with a goal, probably not. The reason you’re probably still reading this article is that you already know the right answer. You may need a bit of a push to get you moving, but you already know what you want to do.

Now is the time to act to pursue your passion – right now.

When you’re having a hard time pushing through challenges, Paper Napkin Wisdom is a great resource for inspiration and success stories from leaders and entrepreneurs all over the world. Check out the blog or podcast to find more bits of wisdom to get you moving.