“I’m waiting for the recession to end.”

“I’ll be glad when things get back to normal.”

I hear these two statements or a slight variation thereof frequently.

I have two suggestions: first, don’t wait. I don’t know when the “recession” or economic doldrums will end and frankly I don’t want to depend on something I can’t control. Recover now. Do what needs to be done to improve your situation. Increase your effort doing those things that you know will improve your situation.

Second suggestion: get past “back to normal.” As I recently blogged, there is no “new normal” and whatever “normal” we encounter in the future will most likely be short lived. Make flexibility and agility your goal. Change as fast or faster than the conditions around you. Never become complacent and believe you’ve reached a period where vigilance and change are no longer necessary.

So what are you waiting for?