Nathan Barry has mentioned this phrase several times and it always stands out to me.

Impatient in the short term.

We get an idea, a flash of genius, a moment of clarity but don’t immediately act on it. We analyze, mull it over, consider our options and the momentum is lost.

This doesn’t mean we should chase every idea wildly, but magic can happen when we move quickly. We don’t have to stick with it if it doesn’t pan out, but we should at least test it out and see if there’s something there.

Patient in the long term.

All of the pieces are in place and we’re implementing the strategy. The results are positive and we know we’re on the right track. It’s just taking longer than we’d hoped for.

This is when we need to be patient. Compounding growth takes time. Patience will pay off when we stick to a winning strategy.

Impatient in the short term. Patient in the long term.