Wile E Coyote's Mistake

In trying to catch the Roadrunner, did you ever notice just how many ideas Wile E Coyote had that?almost?worked??

Did you ever wonder why he?didn't just try that thing that almost worked...again?

What about you? If someone was watching a movie of your daily life is there a similar pattern? You try something that almost works and then abandon it in favor of something easier, or faster, or something that "ACME Corp." told you would definitely solve your problem.

The result can be a frenzy of ideas that we start and quickly abandon, never allowing them an opportunity to gain traction. As?introverts, our contemplative nature can be both a blessing and a challenge in navigating this paradox.

At the other end of the spectrum we tend to value?perseverance?but sticking with something too long also has it's downside. Seth Godin discusses in detail, the topic of?when to quit?in his book "The Dip." He describes the cul-de-sac, the cliff, and the wrong dip as three times we should consider quitting to be the strategic and intelligent thing to do.?

• The Cul-de-Sac?is an example of a dead end. No matter how much time, effort, or resources you invest, there's no possibility of significant improvement or growth. If you find yourself in a cul-de-sac, it's time to quit and redirect your energy elsewhere. An example might be spending months trying to perfect a handcrafted product that has no interested buyers in your local community.
• The Cliff?looks like temporary difficulty but actually foreshadows catastrophic failure. Even if you push through, things are destined to fall apart. Recognizing a cliff requires the foresight to quit before investing too much and falling too hard. Investing time and money into a side-hustle whose profit potential is quickly being eliminated by cheaper, automated solutions, for example.
• The Wrong Dip. Sometimes you might be in the right field but pursuing the wrong specific project or strategy. If you realize the Dip you're in isn't going to lead to being the best in the world (or something worthwhile close to it), it's time to pivot or quit. An example might be a skilled baker focusing solely on elaborate wedding cakes, despite higher local demand for simpler birthday and celebration cakes.

Are you insane!?

Doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome is commonly referred to as the "definition of insanity." As an introvert, this could be going to over and over to social events and expecting that "this time it will be different" without any preparation or real change in behavior. It's?perseverance,?but it's misdirected perseverance lacking strategy or direction. But in my experience, most of us have the opposite problem. We have Wile E's problem. Not sticking with something for too long, but quitting it too early.

What we have is a lack of PATIENCE

Here's where a?lack of patience shows up:

• We give up or quit too soon:When faced with obstacles, it's tempting to abandon a project before it has a chance to mature. Patience enables us to endure the inevitable challenges, trusting that solutions often emerge with time and continued effort. , remembering that "The only way around is through." – Robert Frost
• We expect things to happen more quickly:In our hyper-connected world, we're conditioned to expect instant gratification. Patience reminds us that growth and significant achievements require a slower, more deliberate pace. In the words of writer Elizabeth Gilbert, "This is how long things take, and you can't rush this."
• We rush through tasks without give them an opportunity to succeed:?The allure of the new and novel can cause us to flit from idea to idea. Patience allows us to dive deeply, uncovering the hidden potential within a project or approach, often yielding unexpected breakthroughs.?
• We don't take the time for "deep work:"?We’re made so uneasy by the experience of allowing reality to unfold at its own speed that when we’re faced with a problem, it feels better to race toward a resolution—any resolution, really, so long as we can tell ourselves we’re “dealing with” the situation, thereby maintaining the feeling of being in control. As Cal Newport emphasizes in "Deep Work," true success requires "the willingness to be patient."

Beyond these examples, patience can harness the hidden power of your subconscious mind. When we step away from a problem, our minds continue to work on solutions in the background. Insights often arise unexpectedly, fueled by the space that patience provides. Haven't you ever come up with a solution to a problem while taking a shower or in the middle of the night?

Cultivate Patience for Powerful Results

• Counteract Impulsiveness:?When tempted to quit, take a pause. Can you identify the source of your frustration and develop a plan to address it, instead of abandoning the effort entirely?
• Redefining Productivity:?True productivity isn't just about crossing tasks off a list; it's about meaningful results. Patience helps us value the quality of our engagement over the illusion of speed. Allow some solutions to unfold in their own time: Avoid the trap of "doing something" for the sake of feeling like you're making progress when sometimes the solution is patience.
• Appreciate Incremental Progress:?Break down large goals into smaller milestones. Celebrate these small wins along the way, nurturing your patience and perseverance for the longer journey.

Like Wile E. Coyote, we may have many clever plans, but without patience, they’re doomed to fail. For introverts, patience isn’t just waiting—it’s strategically nurturing our ideas until they’re ready to succeed. It’s about giving our thoughtful approaches the time they need, ensuring our quiet persistence leads to success.

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