I recently finished listening to the audiobook version of “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” — I’ve never really considered myself an audiobook guy, but it was really lovely to be able to absorb this book while on my daily walk with my son. This writing is truly a refreshing analysis of how we experience time, what “managing” it really looks like, and the meta philosophies that can improve our relationship with it.

While there are many, many great takeaways, (highly recommend checking it out) one that I thought was particularly poignant is the notion that every single person — no matter their stature, role, experience, or degree of competence — is well and truly “winging it”. The author recounts his variety of career paths, each time being just as shocked as the last at the amount of “just figuring it out” everyone is, even in places like government or executive businesspeople.

The actionable bit for me: If everyone is winging it and just trying to make their path through life, why do you let feelings of “one day, when I’m qualified enough…” dictate that you shouldn’t work in the capacity you want to, right now? Nobody’s stopping you, except for you — nobody thinks you’re a fraud for taking a big risk or trying something new, because they’re doing the same!

You don’t have as much time as you think (approximately four thousand weeks, if you're lucky), so if something matters to you, start on it today — not when external forces say you’re ready… because they almost certainly never will.