Christian Community Networking

  Madeline Alexander, The Power Coach™

“I’m waiting for the economy to turn around.” “My schedule is so hectic…when things settle down I will get started.” “As soon as I am done with this project...” “I need to wait and see what’s going to happen with the stock market.” “When the kids are back in school…” “I am waiting for him to apologize.”

One of the biggest traps that you will need to avoid on your way to an exceptional life is the myth of the more opportune time. When you put off pursuing what you truly want in life, whether it is a different career, financial independence, a more loving relationship, or a healthier body, you are allowing the myth of the more opportune time to defeat you.

The fallacy of the more opportune time can cause you to delay your dreams for weeks, months, and years. It’s a favorite tool of your nemesis…Procrastination. The myth of the more opportune time will lull you into a holding pattern of waiting…and waiting…and waiting. There you are, sitting and waiting for circumstances to align in your favor. The problem is that ever won’t happen. Let me tell you the truth right now. There isn’t a more opportune time. There will never be a more convenient time, a less hectic time, etc. The only time you have is NOW. You cannot foresee the future – none of us knows what lies just ahead. That is why I encourage you to do two things: 1) make sure your faith and trust is in God, for He holds your future, and 2) seize the opportunity of the day you have been given…right now.                                                                   

The myth of the more opportune time sounds very reasonable, logical, and intelligent, but it is a myth all the same. It will cost you the exceptional life you truly want if you listen. You cannot relinquish control of your pursuit of your dreams to external circumstances or other people. Happy, fulfilled, and successful people are not moved by what is external to them. Rather, they are driven by the passion inside them, and they bend the external circumstances, whatever they may be, to work in their favor.

I remember a few years ago when I was preparing to go back to school in the evenings to get a second degree. I was working an extremely demanding job in the high tech industry. As the time to enroll for the fall quarter approached, I kept focusing on my schedule at work, and I finally gave in and said, “I can’t start school right now. I am too busy at work. I will wait and start next year when this project is done and things are less hectic.” HUGE mistake!

When the same time rolled around the next year, I was literally TWICE as busy at work as I had been in the previous year! What I did not foresee the year before was that my job role would be changed and significantly expanded. I had greater responsibilities, a larger team to manage, and more complex projects on the horizon. And now, instead of being at the halfway point of completing my degree, I hadn’t even started! The myth of the more opportune time had caused me to squander an entire year of progress toward my goal. Looking back, I realized what a big mistake I had made. I determined in my heart I would start school that fall no matter what. My work schedule was unbelievable. If I looked at the facts, logically, there was no possible way I could succeed on my job and go to school at the same time. I was destined to fail at one or the other, or both. However, I realized if I didn’t make a decision to go after my dream, it would elude me for years to come – there would never be a less hectic time. I was not going to put my destiny on hold. My goal was too important to me to leave it on the sidelines of my life another year. The situation looked absolutely unreasonable - ridiculous, actually. I have learned that sometimes you have to be unreasonable to reach the exceptional.

I made a commitment to myself that I would get started and no matter what happened, and I would not quit under any circumstances. I bought a multi-year calendar and circled the graduation date on the calendar. I counted the days to graduation, and I marked off each day as it went by. Each day was a victory. Since quitting was not an option, I had to find ways to succeed at my job and complete my additional education. It looked impossible. I analyzed my schedule and cut out any extra activity that was not going to help me achieve my goal or stay connected to my family. I had to make tough tradeoffs and difficult sacrifices for the next 2 1/2 years. If I had 10 minutes available, I would read or study. I literally had to make every moment count. I completed my degree while I continued to successfully fulfill all of my job responsibilities. I was a straight A student, and I was promoted on my job! Was it difficult? Yes. Unreasonable? Yes! Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! 90% of that success was in making the decision to do it NOW and cementing in my mind I would not quit no matter what.

So looking at your dreams and goals, what are you waiting for? Is the myth of the more opportune time stopping you? Do you find yourself saying things like…

“I’m waiting for the economy to turn around.”

“I’m waiting to see what’s going to happen with my job.”

“I’m going to start working out next week.”

“I am waiting for her to call me.”

“When I get married…”

Decide today to start taking action to move toward your goals. Stop waiting. There will never be a better time than right now. Here are five things you can do.

1. Get unreasonable in your expectations. Stretch yourself. It will always feel more logical to wait, but success demands that you seize your opportunities, starting now.

2. Make a plan. Start writing down what you want to do and how you can get there. The act of planning can move you forward. Get clear on what you want.

3. Grasp the power of now. You have to get your mind out of the future and get it in the present as soon as possible. For example, if you want to lose weight, don’t start next week or tomorrow. Get up and walk around the block now. Right now! Go! Pull yourself out of the future and thrust yourself into now. This will change your state of mind and get you into a state of action.

4. Take the next action. Determine the one next step you can take to move toward your most important goal today. Get your business license. Download a class schedule. Sign up for an online course or training program. Invest in the best coach for your situation. Assess your credit report. Create your budget. Go to the networking event tonight. Call your doctor to get a physical. Start reading a book to increase your expertise. No matter what the external circumstances are, you can always lay the groundwork now to fulfill your dreams. Be prepared to seize your opportunities.

5. Be the bigger, loving person. When it comes to relationships, don’t procrastinate. There is never a more opportune time than right now to give love. Call your wife/husband to resolve the argument. Learn to say, “I am sorry, please forgive me. I love you.” Sit down with your spouse and ask how they are really doing….and LISTEN. If you are holding unforgiveness, learn to forgive and let it go.

Madeline Alexander, The Power Coach™, is America’s premier rapid results success coach and leading authority on lasting breakthrough experiences. For a FREE fast start Power Coaching Report, "The Five Big Mistakes that Will Stop You from Fulfilling Your Vision, and How to Quit Making Them Today!" visit

www.madelinealexander.com.