Delay Time

I came across a term I'd never heard before yesterday: "Delay time." Delay time refers the time it takes between starting a new endeavor and reaping the rewards for doing so. These rewards may come in the form of praise, money, or even notoriety.

Apparently, delay time is one of the top reasons people don't even try to pursue their goals. Whether it's starting a small business, or embarking on a career as a professional actor later on in life, for many people the payoff just feels too far off in the distance they decide it's not even worth beginning. A pity.

There are two ways to solve the problem. One, you can fall in love with the process itself. This is where the real growth and rewards are found as far as I can tell.

And two, and perhaps more tangibly, you can set-up what are called, "quick-wins." Honor yourself each day for moving the needle forward, however insignificant it may feel. Over time, this will accumulate.

Rather than beat yourself up for not landing the lead on a series in a month, give yourself some credit for the steps you took over the last 4 weeks. Maybe you signed up for a workshop, made an appointment with a photographer for headshots, or read an inspirational article.

Those things matter too and should certainly be recognized.