Everything in its time

Patience has never been a virtue of mine. When I want something, I wanted it yesterday! Delays bug me, especially if due to quality issues. After all, I've always been committed to delivering quality work to my clients on time and on budget. It generates referrals and repeat business, of course, but the true motivation for me has always been taking pride in my work and wanting happy clients. Apparently, not everyone cares as much about doing quality work and delivering good customer service. This past week has been filled with reminders of this reality.

My book apparently went live on June 13, but I wasn’t officially notified until this week. More importantly, it was released before I approved the physical copy. The print quality simply isn’t acceptable. Also, I’ve been hanging onto the edge of my seat for weeks to get going with my website design. However, I haven’t been able to talk to the design team, despite multiple inquiries/requests. There’s more, but you get the idea.

Frustrating? You bet! However, the highest part of me realizes that these objectively undesirable experiences are actually opportunities to practice surrendering to the mystery of timing and recognizing the embedded gifts. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Everything in its time.” It's sage advice.

The way I was intuitively guided to write my book in a fast and furious manner earlier this year meant that I didn’t spend months and months prior to getting the book published to build up my “platform”--that’s the publishing industry’s term for the people to whom an author promotes his/her book. While waiting for the book production issues to be resolved, it gives me more time toward building my platform. With respect to my website, I’m learning more and more every day about how it can be a great opportunity to engage my audience. I don’t want my website to be just an online business card. With the website production taking longer than the impatient part of me would like, I'm using this time to refine my website objectives and incorporate new learning.

In short, it's all good.

I was born a planner, and will always be a planner. It's also very much in my blood to set goals and take action to achieve them. What's more, it's in my genes to want to deliver and receive quality always. Of course, it’s delightful when I get to work with people who operate with similar orientation and standards. When that isn’t the case, I have the choice to not dwell on what's lacking but instead look for the gifts in an objectively frustrating situation. There is always a silver lining in everything, if we open our consciousness to see it.

Everything in its time. This is true about my book and my website—and everything that’s currently in my “dream escrow,” waiting for the right time to close. What’s in your dream escrow and what gifts does the waiting time come bearing for you?