Too often, we fall into the trap of waiting—waiting for the perfect moment, waiting for inspiration to strike, waiting for the right circumstances. But as William Butler Yeats so aptly reminds us, waiting won’t get us anywhere. The perfect moment rarely arrives on its own. Instead, it’s through action, through taking that first step, that momentum is created. It’s not about sitting around and waiting for the iron to heat up; it’s about making it hot through your effort.
This quote speaks to a universal truth: action precedes motivation, not the other way around. We tend to believe that we need to feel inspired, motivated, or “ready” before we begin working toward our goals. But more often than not, it’s starting the task, even when you don’t feel like it, that sparks the motivation you’ve been waiting for.
How many times have you put something off because you didn’t feel like doing it in the moment? Maybe it’s a project at work, a personal goal, or even something as simple as tidying up your home. You tell yourself, “I’ll wait until I’m in the right mood,” or “I’ll start when I feel more motivated.” The problem is, if you’re always waiting for the perfect moment, you may never start at all.
The key to overcoming this inertia is simple: take action, even if it’s a small one. Dive into your work, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Tell yourself you’ll focus on it for a short amount of time, and you’ll likely find that once you’ve started, it’s easier to keep going. That initial effort ignites the spark, and soon you find yourself getting into the flow. The energy and motivation that seemed so elusive before begin to build, simply because you took that first step.
Breaking down your work into simple, manageable tasks can make all the difference. When faced with a big project or goal, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You may feel like you don’t know where to start or that the task is too daunting to tackle all at once. But by breaking it down into the smallest first step, you remove that mental barrier. Maybe it’s writing just one sentence, organizing one file, or brainstorming one idea. Once you start, you’ll likely find that the next step comes more easily.
Think of it like building a fire. You don’t wait for the flames to appear on their own. You gather the kindling, strike the match, and tend to the fire until it catches. Your effort is what fuels the flame. Similarly, by taking action, you create the energy and momentum you need to keep going.
It’s important to remember that perfectionism is often the enemy of progress. The idea that you need the “perfect” conditions, the ideal amount of time, or just the right mood to get started is a trap. The truth is, progress happens in imperfect conditions. It happens in moments of uncertainty, doubt, and even reluctance. But those are the moments when taking action matters most.
Your future self will thank you for the efforts you make today. Every time you push yourself to strike, to take that step even when you don’t feel ready, you’re setting the foundation for future success. You’re building momentum, not just for the task at hand, but for the habit of taking action, regardless of the circumstances.
So, don’t wait for the iron to be hot. Don’t wait for the perfect time, the perfect mood, or the perfect conditions. Make the iron hot by striking—by taking that first step, no matter how small. Dive into the work, start the process, and trust that the energy and momentum will follow. You’ve got the power to create the heat, to build the fire, and to achieve your goals, one action at a time.
Your future self will be grateful that you didn’t wait.
