The Downfall of Ambition: How Impatience Derails Success

One of my mentors, a seasoned entrepreneur, taught me the dangers of impatience early in my career. He built a successful business from scratch, starting with just a small sum of money and a big dream. The last time we spoke, he shared with me the journey of growing his company. Curious, I asked him how long it took to get where he is now.

He smiled and said, “Over 30 years,” and chuckled when he saw my surprise. He continued:

“You can’t build something great overnight. It’s not like baking a cake where you mix everything together and it’s ready in an hour. Creating something of real value takes time. First, because you don’t have the resources right away, and second, because the right opportunities come only if you’re patient enough to wait for them.”

And waiting is one of the hardest things to do in life. But if you look closely, you’ll find many examples of people who waited for the right moment.

Consider the investors who bought stocks and real estate during the 2008 financial crisis. That recession dragged on for several years. Recently, I spoke with someone who invested a significant portion of his assets in the stock market between 2009 and 2011.

He had been saving for years leading up to the crisis — not because he predicted it, but…