Carpe Diem is latin for ‘seize the day’ but what about Carpe Momentum, which is ‘seize the moment’?
Life in business is a balance of your ambitions and regrets. You can either seize the moment or regret its passing.
I have a mantra I like to remind myself of now and again: ‘get on a plane’.
What do I mean by that?
Well, it comes from a couple of episodes in my life where my hesitation cost me an opportunity.
Over time, it’s become obvious to me that every opportunity has a balance of risk and reward. And sometimes I’ve let myself be persuaded by negative thoughts, so I pulled out of what could have been major deals and opportunities.
I won’t go into detail on the exact experiences here, you can read my other posts on get on plane.
(There’s more about my regrets in business in my book — and how you can avoid making the same mistakes).
You never know where things might take you.
I say this as I have just returned from a five-star road trip from Amsterdam to Monaco. I was wining and dining with self-made millionaires, pro athletes, entrepreneurs and even a billionaire or two. I was driving with Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches and we ended with drinks on a yacht in Monaco. It wasn’t so much a childhood dream as much as an adulthood dream, but I fulfilled in nonetheless.
That week only came about because of seizing a moment of opportunity. I could have said no, I could have found excuses not to pour myself into this adventure. I could have said that with all that is happening in 2020 it was a bad time so we shouldn’t do it. However, as you read above I did not. I was part of a very small team of people (two of us to start with) that birthed this idea it into life. Along the way, we collected more of a team and I switched to the brand and visual marketing side of things. At every turn we faced difficulties, but eventually, we, the wider team, pulled off this epic adventure with what appeared to be very happy clients.
If you don’t get on a metaphorical plane, or in the car, or on the boat, you’ll never know what that opportunity could have been. And, like me, you may end up with amazing life experiences or …regrets!
It’s not that it comes naturally to me, I have to really push myself out of my comfort zone.
The easy option is aways to say ‘no’, to stay at home or in the office. I’m in my safe place behind my screen, which is where I’ve spent the best part of my professional career.
Sadly for me, the real deals get done in person.
So, what I’m trying to say is:
SEIZE THE MOMENT. And grab it with both hands – you never know what might happen.