The Impact of Timing?

Goal-setting and working towards clearly-defined targets shape many working lives today as we seek to become more efficient and realise our ambitions for success. Knowing what needs to be done and measuring our activities against well-described objectives define our energy and favour successful results. But life doesn’t always conform to our well-laid plans. We often encounter unexpected obstacles and have to contend with setbacks and disappointments. The rocky road to success is often strewn with pitfalls, locked doors and unforeseen obstructions. Of course, we need to have sufficient resilience to keep going in the face of opposition but how important is timing in the pursuit of our dreams?

Most entrepreneurs have tasted the bitterness of defeat in the course of their careers. Most self-made businesspeople have experienced bankruptcy on multiple occasions. It almost seems to be a rite of passage for the seriously ambitious who seek to make their fortunes in new areas of commercial enterprise. Curiously, there are many interesting cases of titans of industry who attribute at least a part of their success to the fickle element of luck. And, if we’re going to entertain the ephemeral influence of luck in our calculations for success, then timing must also play a role in our quest for extraordinary attainment. Even the best ideas do not always receive an enthusiastic reception. We can all think of examples of truly great artists who lived in poverty as their works of genius remained unrecognised during their lifetimes. Despite our best efforts, timing clearly plays a role in the quest for success.

Since we can’t always influence the sequence or timing of all the events that contribute to the crowning success of our dreams, the answer is to be thoroughly prepared in every possible way for the moment when success becomes possible. Maintaining a positive attitude that regards success as an inevitable consequence of our efforts and determination will always fuel our ambition and help us to develop resilience in the face of obstacles and disappointment. We have to be flexible in our approach and willing to adjust our methods in accordance with the circumstances we encounter. But the enduring message from scores of highly-successful individuals is that timing usually favours the diligent, the determined, the resilient and those who are thoroughly prepared to pursue the highest standards of excellence in their chosen field of endeavour. With these qualities, talent will find a fertile field in which to grow and flourish.

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