The problem with waiting

In 2015, I moved to NYC, founded a media company, and became Seth Godin’s in-house CTO. But my hesitation almost prevented it from happening.

At the time, I was Director of Web Optimization for a firm that made software used by more than a million websites. I was running professional services and learning a lot, but something felt off. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was time for a new adventure.

I emailed Seth, who had previously hired me for his book publishing startup called The Domino Project, and told him I was thinking about my next moves. He responded 19 minutes later, asking me to call him. We talked about what I wanted to do next, what it would look like, what he was preparing to launch, and the role I could play.

I was living in Florida at the time, and he suggested that we continue the conversation in person, in New York. I hemmed and hawed about the next time I’d be in New York, to which he replied, “I’m not waiting.”

I booked my flight that day and moved to Harlem a few weeks later.

Things moved quickly. I secured sponsors. Helped launch altMBA. Cultivated contributors. Hired an Editor-in-Chief. Published articles. Grew the newsletter. Produced a launch event. Made a name for myself.

I learned more in those first two weeks than I would have in two years of puttering along in Florida. It had nothing to do with where I lived and everything to do with how I chose to spend my time. I left the safety of the familiar and stepped into the unknown. It was thrilling.

And none of it would’ve happened if I had dragged my feet.

The problem with waiting is that there’s never an ideal or convenient time to do the work we’re called to do. There will always be great reasons to postpone, delay, and spend another six months “researching.”

That’s why I’m launching Next Year Starts Now 🚀.

It’s an invitation, a permission slip, and a mirror for you to hold yourself accountable. There’s still time to close the year out strong.

Next Year Starts Now 🚀