What Are We Waiting For?
Recently, we celebrated my daughter’s first birthday—a milestone moment. But if I’m honest, something felt… off. It wasn’t the party or the people. It was internal. After some reflection, I figured out why.
I realized I’ve spent a lot of life thinking, “When I hit this milestone, then I’ll become that version of myself.” And yet, the “then I’ll...” never quite seems to follow the “when I…”
Sound familiar?
We tell ourselves:
“When I get promoted, then I’ll start acting like a leader.”
“When I finish this big project, then I’ll make time for my team.”
“When things slow down, then I’ll prioritize my health.”
So what are we waiting for?
In the past few weeks, I stopped to ask myself that exact question. Then I made a list of five things I wanted to change—and I started taking action. No more waiting for permission or perfect timing.
And here’s why this matters not just for us as individuals, but for the teams and organizations we lead:
Waiting could be costing your business its effectiveness.
Waiting might be blocking your team from reaching their full potential.
Waiting often stands in the way of clarity, collaboration, and great work.
As I look back on my own journey—from a small town in New Zealand to becoming a U.S. citizen, a CEO, and a dad—I’ve checked off so many of the dreams I once had: buy my first car, move to America, get married, start a company. But here’s the truth that hit me hard:
Even after reaching those goals, the “then I’ll” list remained untouched.
“Then I’ll get fit.”
“Then I’ll be more generous.”
“Then I’ll call my family more often.”
“Then I’ll be more present.”
The milestones came, but those habits didn’t magically follow. And it made me realize—I wasn’t actually waiting for anything. I was waiting for my excuses to disappear. But they never do.
So I drew a line in the sand.
In the last few weeks, I’ve been living out some new commitments—like meal prepping and cutting out sugar and carbs (don’t worry, I’m still allowing myself the occasional Taco Deli taco). The difference? I started saying “I’m going to” instead of “when I…” And that small shift in language made a big shift in mindset.
If you’re ready to stop waiting and start becoming, here are five mindset shifts that helped me:
1. Replace “When I...” with “I will.”
Your words shape your mindset. Start catching yourself in conversations—especially at work. Instead of saying, “When I have more time, I’ll lead better meetings,” say, “I will start making our meetings more effective now.”
2. Stop making excuses.
It’s easy to blame a future event for inaction today. But being a better teammate, parent, or leader doesn’t need to wait for the next phase of life. As MLK Jr. said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase—just take the first step.”
What’s the goal you’ve had in your mind for a while now that keeps getting pushed to the side? Start with one small step to work towards that goal today.
3. Ask for help.
Growth rarely happens in isolation. One-on-one meetings with your leader or your teammates are a great space to share your goals, get feedback, and ask for help removing the barriers that are keeping you from your growth goals. Don’t underestimate the power of a trusted perspective.
4. Think outside the box.
Are you waiting to launch something because it’s not quite perfect yet? Here’s the thing—progress beats perfection every time. The version you’re holding back might be the one that sparks real momentum.
Ask your team:
“What if we tried this version instead?”
You already know what the status quo delivers—so why not shake things up?
Don’t let fear of failure stop you. You’ll either succeed or you’ll learn. Both are better than staying stuck.
5. Just start.
This one’s both the simplest and the hardest. But waiting for the perfect time only robs us of today. Most things don’t get easier—we just get better at them. So start…now.
I never imagined, as a high school dropout in New Zealand, that I’d be where I am today. But even with all those accomplishments, I still find myself getting stuck when I wait. So I’m learning to ask:
What am I really waiting for?
And more importantly:
What might happen if I stopped waiting—and started right now?
Here’s my challenge to you:
Ask yourself where you’re holding back. What belief or milestone are you waiting for before you act? What would it look like to start today?
Because the truth is—if we wait, we risk being left behind. The future belongs to the ones who move. Keep the hunger. Keep the grit. Keep asking the question:
What are we waiting for?
Thanks for reading,
MT