The Problem with ‘Once’ and ‘If’ and ‘When’
and why done is better than perfect because perfect is never done
Welcome back to The Deal Space where business isn’t just a game - it’s a full contact sport.
We have one big purpose here - to win more or learn trying.
Today’s Topic: Mindset
Reading time: ~2 minutes
Today At a Glance
What you can learn from Dr Seuss’ ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’.
Why ‘the waiting place’ brings about wreck and ruin.
And my other favourite lines from the book.
Have you ever read ‘Oh! the Places You’ll Go’ by Dr Seuss?
We love that book in our house.
For the longest time it was a staple bedtime story that I’d march my way through, listing out the lessons to the boys.
‘The Waiting Place’
The good Doctor (Seuss) talks about the dangers of ‘the waiting place’, and I share it with you because of how guilty I am of hanging out in this godforsaken space.
You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That's not for you!
How Do We End Up in ‘The Waiting Place’?
The biggest excuse for hanging out in ‘the waiting place’ is chasing perfection.
Alex Hormozi has a great quote that I remind myself of constantly: “Done is better than perfect because perfect is never done.”
The way ‘the waiting place’ looks in real life are words like ‘Once’ and ‘If’ and ‘When’.
Here are some real-life examples of the waiting place that I’ve been guilty of:
It would be easier if I had a different job.
Once I make more money life will be better.
It will be more fun when the kids are older.
It was simpler when the kids were younger.
Life is easier if you’re that girl/guy.
I’ll go outside when the weather is nicer.
Once I finish reading this book about starting a business then I’ll start a business.
The Problem with ‘The Waiting Place’
I read an essay by Dickie Bush recently and (note: I’m paraphrasing) this is what he said:
Want to know what the big problem with Once (and If and When) is?
They never end.
After one comes another, then another, and another.
And then before you know it, you’re dead.
How could I possibly say it better than that?
What to Do, What to Do?
I didn’t really come here today with oodles of inspiration or motivation to offer you because the truth is I’m stockpiling it all for myself at the moment for my own daft reasons.
Today, it seems, I’m one of those annoying people that just point out that there might be a problem.
I guess you could let the idea that it’s all ending one day at a time put some steel in your veins and stand up and take a step forward (he says to himself).
Extra Reading
Here are 3 other favourite passages from ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’:
About being in control of your own destiny:
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
About keeping on:
But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
About being all you can be:
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
Listen to it here: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss Read Aloud - YouTube
Read it here: Oh, the Places You'll Go! (weebly.com)
Buy it here: Oh, The Places You'll Go [Yellow Back Book Edition] : Seuss, Dr: Amazon.com.au: Books