Many people spend their lives waiting for the perfect moment—the right resources, the ideal opportunities, the perfect set of conditions. They wait for the day when they will have the perfect degree, the high-paying job, or the perfect situation to begin their journey. They believe that success lies in obtaining these things.
But the truth is, success doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect circumstances. It comes from the willingness to utilize what you have, where you are, to the fullest potential.
The Miser and His Gold: The True Value Lies in Action, Not Possession.
In ancient times, there was a miser who had accumulated vast amounts of gold. He was so protective of his wealth that he buried it deep in the ground, visiting it every day to admire the treasure he’d stored. He would often tell his neighbors of the wealth he possessed, proud of his fortune.
But despite his immense wealth, the miser never used the gold. He didn’t buy food, help others, or invest in any way—he merely kept it hidden. One day, a thief stole his gold, and when the miser realized it was gone, he was devastated.
In his grief, a neighbor approached and remarked, “You might as well have buried a stone. For what use is gold that is never spent, never shared, never put to work?”
The miser had kept the gold for security and pride, but he had never used it to improve his life or the lives of others. His treasure was meaningless because he failed to make use of it.
Moral:
Possessing resources, whether gold or knowledge, is not enough. It’s the application, the action, and the will to use them that brings value.
Simply hoarding resources without purpose or action leaves them as useless as stones buried in the earth.
Small Actions, Big Opportunities.
The key lesson here is that applying what we have doesn’t always mean making a drastic change. Sometimes, it’s the small, consistent steps that lead to bigger opportunities.
Take my own experience: I started journaling to organize my thoughts. This small action eventually turned into writing, and over time, writing opened doors to business opportunities I never imagined.
If I had waited for the “perfect moment” to start a business without these small steps, I would have had slim chances of success.
So often, people focus on what they don’t have or the perfect conditions they believe are necessary for success.
But the truth is, real growth happens when we start where we are and work with what we have.
Waiting for the perfect moment only delays progress. The key is in taking small actions consistently.
Train Your Mind to Spot Opportunities.
Many people live their lives reacting to circumstances instead of thinking about how to use what they already have.
It’s easy to focus on lack—on what we don’t have. But when we focus on what we lack, we train our minds to overlook the resources we already possess.
Even when you’re flat broke, you might still have an abundance of time. You can use that time to learn, to grow, or to work on a side hustle.
The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t always the resources at hand; it’s the mindset.
When you train your mind to see opportunities in every situation, you’ll start to uncover ways to move forward with what you have.
Thinking: The Hardest Part of Success.
Thinking is a deliberate, conscious process. It is not just reacting to the world around you, but pausing to observe, to ask questions, and to explore possibilities.
This is why great thinkers, like Henry Ford, said that thinking is the hardest part of success.
Most people react emotionally, without truly thinking through their actions. Overthinking is often misunderstood. It’s not about dwelling on problems; it’s about carefully considering your next steps and acting with intention.
If you can train yourself to think deliberately and critically, you’ll start to see opportunities that others miss.
Breaking the Status Quo.
Creativity is about seeing things differently—about constantly questioning the status quo and imagining how things could be better. This mindset trains you to look for improvements in every area of your life.
It’s not about accepting things as they are, but about constantly asking, “How can this be done better?”
When you adopt this mindset, you’ll begin to notice possibilities everywhere. Even in difficult situations, you’ll find small opportunities to act, to improve, and to grow. You’ll stop waiting for the perfect conditions and start making progress with what you have.
Conclusion: Small Steps Lead to Big Change.
In the end, success isn’t about having everything you need before you start. It’s about taking what you have and making the most of it.
Like the miser with his gold, the real value comes from what you do with your resources—not from hoarding them or waiting for the “right time.”
If you wait for the perfect moment to start your business, write your book, or make your change, you’ll be waiting forever.
Start with what you have now, take small steps, and let those actions build upon each other. Over time, you’ll look back and see how those small actions led to massive opportunities you never could have predicted.
Remember: “Great people don’t always have the best things, but they always make the best out of things.”
It’s not the resources we lack, but the resourcefulness to make something of what we already have, right where we are.