The professional use of time

   I was fortunate enough to meet with a young entrepreneurs' club recently. We discussed a trait that is prevalent among young entrepreneurs, impatience. One particular "ready-set-go" person  wanted to quit his almost-completed degree program and get on with doing business as a new entrepreneur.
   As New Orleans Saints fans(World Champions) our discussion turned to their MVP quarterback, Drew Brees.
   It must be very stimulating to take a snap as a professional quarterback, drop back into the backfield and have a couple of tons of fast moving humanity, intent on doing you damage, running at you full speed. Yet, professionals like Brees use their 2-4 seconds in these situations very carefully.
   Less experienced and less capable players often work to get rid of the football as quickly as possible just to prevent loss of yards or a tough tackle. Brees, and other similarly qualified quarterbacks, wait until the proper moment, checking their receivers, then allowing them to break into the open where the chances of a completion are at a higher percentage. It's an excellent example of the professional use of time. If the time is right, they will of course, unload the ball quickly, but the right use of their time in these situations gives them a much better opportunity for success.
   Young entrepreneurs could well use this example as insight into their own careers and choices. Just because the opportunity presents itself, does not necessarily mean the time is right to leave school, take on a big project without the funding or manpower, leave a secure but unexciting job for a risky venture with a buddy.
   I often teach that for entrepreneurs, a heartbeat is the measure of an instant. The professional use of time allocates those heartbeats toward only those people, projects and circumstances that are genuinely worthy of the most precious and perishable of our resources, our time.
   There are few accomplishments today that will get you the instant credibility of a good academic background. It's often a worthwhile use of heartbeats and can have a positive affect on an entrepreneur's entire future.
   There are many entrepreneurs who have earned their success without any other credential than intelligence, and diligent work. The dozens I've talked to and worked with still make use of their time from the professional
perspective. And  they act when the time is right rather than when it's just easy or convenient.