The Right Moment: When To Start Your Change

"When is the best time to start with a change?” A recurring doubt and hesitation for entrepreneurs, business owners, managers — and even when it comes to our personal lives. Just image: you just got a new business idea — and now you waver at the starting line. Is now the right time to go for it? Is now the best time? Should you start the change now — or perhaps wait some other time when the circumstances would be more favourable? But the “perfect moment” is a myth. The real secret is not the timing, but the active preparation!

Did you know that according to a study by the University of Scranton, a whopping 92% of people fail to achieve their New Year's resolutions? One of the main reasons cited is procrastination and waiting for the 'right time'. Similarly, a survey by LinkedIn found that 61% of professionals delay making career changes because they feel the timing isn't perfect. Such hesitation then often leads to missed opportunities and prolonged dissatisfaction.

We seem to take timing judgement calls everyday — weighting pros and cons of doing this or that right now — or postponing for the better times. How many times have you postponed your dream trip to an exotic destination? Or how many times have you postponed your desire to change the job? Now tell me — when you look back on these decisions in retrospective, was the postponement good or bad idea? I would venture to guess that more often than not, the postponement wasn’t for the better.

So where comes the hesitation from? Why do we struggle so much at the starting line, agonizing about the right moment, about the best timing? There are basically three key reasons why we hesitate to start a change.

1 | Fear of Failure and Uncertainty

A study by the American Psychological Association found that 75% of people experience significant stress when faced with change, primarily due to fear of the unknown and potential failure. This fear can be paralyzing and prevent us from taking the necessary steps toward our goals. But why does this fear hold such power over us?

Fear of failure is deeply rooted in our psychology. It often comes from our early experiences. As children, our mistakes were met with criticism rather than encouragement. And this experience continues throughout the school, in our teen years — and later when we start our careers. It’s more common for managers and companies to point out to employees their shortcomings than wins. Because praise may lead to unwanted salary increase expectations — while expressing criticism keeps the herd in a barn. It’s a subconscious behaviour rather than some guideline, but the harm to our psyche is done.

Because unfortunately, this pattern causes a fixed mindset, where we see our abilities as static, unchangeable, and more or less insufficient.

Uncertainty, on the other hand, triggers our brain's natural aversion to the unknown. The human brain is wired to prefer predictability and control, and stepping into uncharted territory can feel incredibly daunting.

2 | Overthinking the Consequences

According to research published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, over 50% of individuals tend to overthink the potential negative outcomes of change, which leads to analysis paralysis and inaction. The human brain seems to prefer the negative thoughts over positive ones. I remember to read somewhere that approximately 70% of our thoughts per day are negative. So expecting the worst case scenario seems a likely path our brain will take.

Mix that up with the fear of failure and unknown — and you get a perfect recipe for a procrastination cocktail, served on ice.

3 | Waiting for Perfect Conditions

The Harvard Business Review reported that 70% of business leaders admit that waiting for the perfect conditions often results in lost momentum and missed growth opportunities. Still, we sometimes believe that the situation will somehow evolve for the better. That tomorrow, we will be able to achieve our change goals more easily, faster, and with less risks.

The conditions are rarely 100% perfect. But don’t you think that 90%, 80%, even 70% is good enough?

Impacts on Decision-Making

These three reasons are not always evident. But there are two easy-to-spot symptoms. When you observe them, you just know you have to deal with the hesitation behaviour.

Analysis Paralysis

When we're afraid of failing, we often fall into analysis paralysis—overthinking every possible outcome and convincing ourselves that we're not ready. This indecision leads to missed opportunities and stagnation.

Some companies are infested with this disease. The managers are afraid to take a bold move, so they ask for more data, more charts, more analysis, scenario modelling, stress tests, and big five consultants. And when finally cornered by the evidence, they sneak out by establishing a committee, which elevates the paralysis to a whole new level.

Avoidance Behaviour

To avoid the discomfort of potential failure and of taking the responsibility, many people engage in avoidance behaviour. This might look like postponing decisions, diverting focus to less important tasks, or finding excuses to delay taking action.

The Myth of the Perfect Moment

OK — so, why is this important for you — entrepreneurs, individuals, and managers? Because understanding these common barriers can help you recognize and overcome them in your own journey towards change.

Because major reason why people hesitate to make changes is the belief that there's a 'perfect time' to start. We wait for the stars to align, for conditions to be ideal, and for everything to feel just right. But here's the truth: the perfect moment is a nonsense.

This myth is perpetuated by cultural narratives and social influences. We often hear stories of people who seem to have found that perfect timing for their success. And it makes us believe that we too must wait for that ideal moment.

You know - waiting for the perfect moment can be psychologically comforting. It gives us a reason to delay action, which temporarily handles the fear of failure and uncertainty. However, this comfort is apparent and ultimately counterproductive.

So — why the perfect moment doesn’t exist?

Firstly, because the life is full of constantly changing variables. There will always be something that isn't quite right or that could be better. Waiting for perfection means waiting for eternity, as perfection is a moving target.

Secondly, because of the opportunity cost. By waiting for perfect conditions, we often miss out on opportunities that emerge in the present. The costs of inaction can be high, leading to wasted chances for growth and success.

Consider successful entrepreneurs like Elon Musk. Although I am not a big fan of his — he certainly deserves admiration for his courage to start moving. He doesn’t wait for perfect conditions to start his ventures. He takes calculated risks, learns from his failures, and adapts to changing circumstances.

The key to overcoming the myth of the perfect moment is to take action now. Regardless of the imperfections in your current situation. Because progress often begins with imperfect actions.

Starting now allows you to learn and adapt along the way. Each step provides valuable feedback that can guide your next move.

But beware! There’s a huge difference between taking action — and blindly rushing. And the difference is —— preparation.

The preparation

The preparation is the real game changer. When you stand on the starting line, you should not be agonizing over the question “Is now the right moment?” Instead, the right question to ask is “Am I well prepared?”

While timing may play a role, it's the preparation that determines your success — or failure. Because preparation provides a solid foundation for your change efforts. It ensures that you are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge, and mindset to navigate the challenges that come with change.

But unlike waiting for the best moment to start a change, preparation is an active process. Preparation puts you in control. When you wait for the perfect moment, you're essentially in a passenger seat, hoping for external conditions to align in your favour. On the other hand, preparation involves taking deliberate steps to get yourself ready for the change ahead. It means variety of actions — like gathering information, securing resources, and setting the goals and governance. All that keeps you engaged and already moving forward. By actively preparing, you create your own momentum.

Active preparation also empowers and gears you up to handle uncertainties and obstacles. Instead of being caught off guard by unexpected challenges, your preparation allows you to anticipate potential issues and develop tactics to address them. This proactive approach reduces the anxiety associated with change because you have a plan already.

Furthermore, preparation builds confidence. As you lay the groundwork for your change project, your self-assurance grows. You begin to trust in your ability to succeed, which is a critical factor in overcoming the fear of failure.

Moreover, preparation can reveal insights, threats, and opportunities that you might not have noticed otherwise — as you gain a deeper understanding of the change you want to make and the environment in which you'll be operating. Active preparation transforms the way you perceive and approach change, shifting your mindset from hesitation to readiness. It turns your focus from waiting for ideal conditions to creating the best possible conditions.

And you may suddenly realize that almost any moment can be the right moment.