November 18, 2013 Focus Point

The Law of Timing

"When to lead is as important as what to do and where to go." ~John Maxwell

"The only limits in our life are those we impose on ourselves." ~Bob Proctor

"It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn." ~B. C. Forbes

"It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up." ~Vince Lombardi

1- The wrong action at the wrong time leads to disaster.

2- The right action at the wrong time brings resistance.

3- The wrong action at the right time is a mistake.

4- The right action at the right time results in success.

I recently had a conversation with an individual who related an experience. It was a difficult time with lots of demands and pressures, and on top of all of that she was working towards getting licensed as a Real Estate Agent. One particular day found her exhausted and deflated. "Will I ever make it? Will I be able to pass the test?" You understand the normal questions that we ask ourselves when times get tough. She was about to give up on herself and her goal, but just then it happened. She answered a phone call from a person who was also working on her license at the same time. "Let's do it together." Together they studied, worked, traveled, and became great friends. Together they were able to pass the tests, become licensed, and accomplish their goals. What if this person's friend had put off calling for another week or two, the outcome may have been very different. The Law of Timing was at work.

In John Maxwell's book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership we see that the law of timing is what led Jimmy Carter to be President of the United States. In 1976 Americans were ready for new blood, and a new view and voice for Government. January 20, 1977 James Earl Carter was inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States. But as the window of timing came, it also went away. In the 1980 election, Carter faced a devastating defeat in that he won only 49 electoral votes against Ronald Reagan's 489. Maxwell believes that with Carter's lack of experience and tenure in politics that his initial win in 1976 was a remarkable point in the timing in America and that at no other time would he have even had a chance.

The Law of Timing is real, and at work in our lives.