How important is "timing" in your life?

I once heard it said that "It's not so much meeting the right person as it is meeting the right person at the right time." 

Everything that has ever happened or will happen has been waiting to occur since the beginning of time. Think about that. Planet Earth is over 4.5 billion years old. Your birth, your high school graduation, and your wedding day have been waiting to happen for more than four and a half billion years! 

Timing plays a huge role in everything around us. More people get married in September than in any other month. More than 41% of all business deals close in the last three months of the year. And cows produce more milk in April than at any other time.

The timing of when we eat, sleep, and exercise is crucial to our overall health. Athletes spend most of their practice sessions developing timing. Understanding when to apply for a job, seek a promotion, or change industries can determine your professional success.

But is there such a thing as "perfect timing?" The short answer is "No." Most entrepreneurs will tell you to start where you are and figure it out as you go along. Too many people give up on their purpose, mission, or dream because they can't find the right time to begin. 

While there may not be such a thing as "perfect timing," there are things you can do to take advantage of good timing. Here are three of them:

1. Determine when you make the best decisions. Some individuals are morning people, while others operate better later in the day. Unless it's an emergency, a good rule of thumb is that if you are being rushed to make a decision, the best answer is "No."

2. Take advantage of the streak. If things are going well for you, that may be a good time to make important assessments (provided you have the necessary information). Once you've built up some momentum, use the energy and timing to keep things moving in your favor.

3. See the big picture. Having the time to make decisions usually leads you to better outcomes. Once those decisions are made, consider the long-term ramifications of those choices. Are there things you can head off now, because you have the time to determine their impact?  

Timing affects every aspect of our lives. Whether making an important financial decision, determining if we want to propose to our significant other, or deciding to make a career shift, knowing the right time to execute your plan can be the difference between success and failure, between misery and happiness. 

Please leave me a comment about the importance of timing in your life. Your ideas and opinions are important, and I'd appreciate hearing from you.