When it involves ceasing opportunities, the problem is not because we are dumb. The real problem is, we overthink things but act too late. We saw the opportunity; instead of taking it, we just sat and started analyzing it until it disappeared. Overthinking is one of the reasons why people loses opportunities that may never come again.
I had this experience when I was searching for shop for business some time ago. For months, I walked around in search of a place that would be busy with continuous movement and good visibility. Anybody who ever looked for a shop in the commercial area knows what kind of stress this is. Of course, the good spots were expensive and those within my budget were hard to find.
Then one day, the chance finally came: a shop was vacant in a very busy place, just where I had always wanted; people were passing through there. It was the type of place that could help businesses grow fast. My partner immediately told me to take it.
Instead of going ahead with the payment, I decided to give it a lot of thought. And that was where I missed everything.
I kept analyzing, measuring, imagining, planning, and delaying for close to five days. I wanted to be assured it would suit my arrangement best. My partner was constantly telling me not to think too much about it and just go ahead with the payment, but I was so caught up with the idea of having everything perfect that I couldn't just make the move.
So, when I came back for a second round of checks, I was informed that the shop had already been paid for by another person.
That was how I lost that opportunity.
Feeling so foolish, I stood there knowing deep inside me that the shop was good enough to start with. All the while, money I had kept aside for the business went into other things, and the whole thing faded away slowly.
Overthinking is the main reason how those opportunities that could change your life are getting killed.
One of the reasons why smart people are often broke is that they overthink everything, over-plan everything, and then just wait for that perfect moment that never happens. In the meantime, some other person who may not be that smart and is not so picky, just takes action and gets the result.
Nothing is better than a small start. A small room can turn into a big dream, but nothing can grow from an plan that was never executed. This simple truth experience taught me: opportunities do not wait for overthinkers, they move to the ones that move. The next time that good chance comes along, stop trying to perfect it. Take the step. Improve later. You can correct a moving car, but you cannot drive a parked one.