Don’t wait to start doing the right thing
I was in school just when the personal computer was becoming popular. The ‘coolest’ thing for kids our age. aside from playing football of course, was to get access to a computer. In truth, I preferred playing games, as primitive as they were. But we also did some programming. It was in BASIC, one of the more popular early languages.
One of the programming constructs we used often was the IF-THEN instruction. IF something or other is the case THEN the computer should do this or that.
That IF-THEN idea came into my mind again in recent weeks arising from some really useful sessions with some of our Smarter Egg groups. Quite a few people have caught themselves making the IF-THEN mistake when it comes to their work and business.
Here’s the problem:
IF I get the promotion/get that contract/expand the business/am assigned onto that project
THEN I will start doing the higher-value tasks and work that’s required
But, is it the right idea to postpone doing that higher-value work until the circumstances change?
Todd Henry makes the point very well in his book The Accidental Creative, where he talks about the dilemma we face when we are expected to produce great ideas on demand.
If you want to deliver the right idea at the right moment, you must begin the process far upstream from when you need that idea. You need to build practices into your life that will help you focus your creative energy.
He’s right. Developing the right practices is so important. And there’s no point waiting for that IF-THEN moment for you to start doing the right thing.
Think Rugby. Do you think you’re better off passing to a player who’s already moving or one who’s standing still?