Are you waiting for the tsunami?

A friend was learning to surf some time ago on a beautiful Portuguese island in the midst of summer. The waves were rather small, and he kept waiting and waiting without attempting to catch any of them at all. After several minutes, the instructor shouted from the distance: "Are you waiting for the tsunami?" This brought the friend immediately back to the truth — action causes progress, and action can and must happen in spite of the conditions/context. Very rarely are there perfect conditions, and when they occur, you may not be placed in the best spot to catch the wave.

So you look for the next best alternative, no matter its nature, shape, or circumstances. It's akin to the concept of BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) in negotiation: what's the second/third best thing that can happen from the outcome of the negotiation if the ideal scenario doesn't play out? You don't want to go into a negotiation without having thought through that, or else you will find yourself empty-handed and unprepared emotionally and practically.

The concept of imperfect action applies to virtually every situation in life. Forward momentum—something we inherently seek, even unconsciously—doesn't materialize simply when the stars align. Instead, it emerges through deliberate action regardless of circumstances, taken with humility and respect for others involved. While you're not the center of the world, you are the center of your world—"an atom in the universe, a universe of atoms" (a quote from Richard Feynman).

Take imperfect action, observe with both lightness and attention, adjust course, act again, and keep going. This is how we achieve things—though we sometimes forget it and get lost in overanalysis, a gentle reminder can reawaken this truth.