WAIT FOR IT!

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 18th century French philosopher/writer/composer.

Good advice for us all and none more than those who feel they don't have time to consider what it means to them.

MOM WAS RIGHT

"It is my feeling that Time ripens all things; with Time all things are revealed; Time is the father of truth."

François Rabelais, 15th century French writer.

Whenever I impatiently wanted something to happen my mom would say, "In due time."

Initially I didn't understand what she meant, however, in due time, I did.

Thanks mom!

PATIENCE! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!

"All commend patience but none can endure to suffer."

Thomas Fuller, 17th century English historian.

Patience is but one of the virtues most of us do not have.

Just one of many we tell our kids they should have.

This applies to me too and starting today, no, right this minute, I'm going to learn to be patient.

No more delay, right NOW!

A MAJOR VIRTUE

"Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau 18th century French philosopher

I rest Mr. Rousseau's case if you think you don't have time to understand what this means.

JUST ASK AARON

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

John Milton (1608-1674) English poet.

Aaron Rodgers stood and waited behind Brett Farve three years for his chance to play.

Waiting for his moment.

You may be ready but your moment may not be.

Patience

I'D BE PATIENT BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME

"All human errors are impatience, a premature breaking off of methodical procedure. An apparent fencing-in of what is apparently at issue."

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) Czech writer

There's a fine line between patience and missed opportunity caused by inaction.

But how many of your mistakes were the result of acting too late as opposed to too soon?

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONTROL

"He who cannot obey himself will be commanded. That is the nature of living creatures."

Friedrich Nietzsche

19th century German-Swiss philosopher/writer

You will be commanded by someone.

Wouldn't it be best for that person in charge of you to be you?

In Due Time

"Nothing can be done except little by little."

Charles Baudelaire

19th century French poet

Accepting patience as a necessary part of progress has always been difficult.

And in these days of instant/always on, even more so.

Doing What You Say?

"Patience when teased is often transformed into rage."

Proverb

"Teasing" can take many forms.

For example repeatedly promising and failing to fulfill those promises.

And as to "rage"?

How about being fired for not doing what you said you would?

Or "fired" by a customer who is no longer willing to buy your product, having been disappointed in what you previously sold them?

(Even) If It Ain't Broke, Fix It

"Hesitation increases in relation to risk in equal proportion to age."

Ernest Hemingway

20th century American author/adventurer

We all know this is true in our personal lives; the older we get the more risk adverse we become.

But in business as well.

The more successful a company, the longer it has been around, the less likely is management to consider and try new ways.

And in that are the seeds of its downfall.

In Due Time

"I am too Occidental for a long vigil.  I could work at a problem for years, but to wait 24 hours--that is another matter."

Time Traveler

"The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells

I'm not sure this condition is limited to Occidentals, but whatever the case, I understand the implications of patience, or lack thereof.

How about you, are you patient? 

I (patiently) await your answer.

Patience Now, Fewer Regrets Later

"If you are patient in moments of anger, you will escape 100 days of sorrow."

Chinese proverb

Not unexpectedly, a proverb coming from a people noted for their reflective serenity.

Now, if I could only learn how to do this more often.