Good things take time, but great things take longer

There's a swan’s nest close to my office with six or seven eggs inside and I’ve been watching eagerly each day, desperate to get a glimpse of the chicks. Then someone told me that both the mother and father will incubate those eggs for up to six weeks - much longer than I realised - so I’ll have to be patient, because it’s going to be a little while yet before I get to see those baby swans.

This got me thinking about the things in life that need space and time to grow; not just physical things, but also our ideas, plans, goals and dreams. Of course, we can achieve a great deal in a short space of time (in fact, I’ve written another blog with tips on how to get those “must-do” tasks out of the way), but most of the bigger things in life require more sustained, longer-term effort. After all, we don’t plant seeds in the garden and expect the beautiful spring flowers to appear overnight.

A few things have happened in my own life recently which have really brought this home to me. Earlier this month, I finally submitted my completed book manuscript to my publisher, which was a wonderful feeling. At 63,730 words (not that I’m counting!), it obviously isn’t something that came into being overnight. In fact, I first started writing it when my daughter was in primary school; she'll be turning 18 this summer, so it's been a long time in the making. The point is, there are things in life which take time - perhaps longer than we ever imagined - but it’s worth it in the end, especially if it’s something that we’re committed to achieving.

The fast-approaching one-year anniversary of moving into our new office is another example of this. I couldn’t have dreamt that it would take me as long as it has to fully unpack, sort through all the boxes and find homes for everything. It may have taken me twelve months, but I finally feel settled and at home in this new space and it was worth taking the time to find that feeling.

I've also been looking at the business plans we’ve made for 2023, and with a fresh perspective it’s clear to me that some of the targets we’ve set ourselves are simply too ambitious. I now realise how important it is to give the business the time and space it needs to breathe, grow and evolve, so we can ensure that every piece of work we do is carried out to the best of our abilities and to the high standards that our clients have come to expect.

This brings to mind a quote from Bill Gates: “most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” That doesn’t mean it isn’t great to plan ahead and work towards what we want in life, it just means that it might take longer than we anticipated.

We all have big dreams that can’t be achieved overnight or even in a week, month or year. I didn’t write my book overnight - it took years to complete - but it’s finished now and if I’m honest, I think it feels like an even greater achievement because it took so long to get there.

Think about your big dream - whether it’s retraining for a new career, moving abroad, learning to foxtrot like a pro, or even tackling some of your limiting beliefs - and then give yourself the time and space you need to start taking baby steps towards it. It will probably take longer than you think, but keep going - if it’s something that you’re committed to, it will be worth it in the end.