“Just one more year.”
That’s what you told yourself three years ago.
After this project, you said.
After the next promotion cycle.
After the market stabilizes.
After you finish that certification.
Now it’s been years.
And you’re still waiting for the “right time.”
A professional expressed his frustration last month in our 1-1:
“I’ve been planning my next move since 2019. It’s 2025. I’m still here. Same frustrations. Same ceiling. I just kept thinking… next year will be better.”
Here’s what I’ve observed:
The “right time” never arrives on its own.
Because what you’re actually waiting for isn’t time.
It’s readiness that feels safe.
Certainty that feels comfortable.
A guarantee that doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile:
→ Your skills are aging
→ Your network is stagnant
→ Your market value is unclear
→ Your options are narrowing
The pattern I see most often:
Professionals who wait for the “perfect moment” end up waiting through the years when their leverage was highest.
By the time they’re ready to move, they’re explaining gaps and playing catch-up instead of choosing from options.
This isn’t about rushing bad decisions.
It’s about recognizing when “waiting” has become “avoiding.”
The right time to position yourself isn’t when you’re desperate.
It’s when you still have the luxury of choice.
If you’ve been telling yourself “just one more year” for longer than you’d like to admit—
That’s not patience.
That’s a pattern.
And patterns don’t break themselves.
—
Ready to stop waiting and start positioning?
Let’s talk → https://24x7coach.com/