It’s probably true – a lot of exciting, important things simply take a long time.  When we use this as an excuse though what we’re really saying is that we either don’t have enough time to achieve it or to enjoy it if we do.  Think back to when you were five or six and couldn’t imagine being as old as twenty. While the goal is important you need to find a way to enjoy the process as well – think about the difference between saying ‘I want to be a doctor’ and ‘I want to become a doctor’ – the latter may not make medical school go faster but I’ll bet it makes it more enjoyable. After all living takes a long time too!

Rather than simply give platitudes like ‘it’s all in your attitude’ I’d rather steer your attention to some creative thinking about how to make the process worthwhile.  For the person contemplating college in midlife who always hated school I’m guessing they never tried school on a computer and in their pj’s with a cup of cocoa.  It could make all the difference.  Or the person who wants to start a business but worries about how long it will take to be self-supporting. Are there ways to have a foot in some other income streams until the new one stabilizes? Not only will that make the process more fun but probably more successful too.

It is true though that if you keep putting it off it won’t come any faster…

Next week:  ‘I must not be good enough’

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