Timing is Everything

Timing is everything when it comes to efforts and outcomes.

Recently, I revisited the concepts of marginal cost and marginal benefit in the context of AI implementation. When I first encountered those concepts while studying economics in college, I was also taking home horticulture as an elective, and the two areas of study intersected for me in a bed of lettuce that I was growing. 

It takes the same amount of energy to plant lettuce in the early spring and early fall as it does to plant it in the early summer and early winter (marginal cost). But what you end up harvesting (marginal benefit) varies greatly depending on when you plant. 

The early summer and early winter plantings will produce very little, while the early spring and early fall plantings will produce an abundant harvest. 

At the end of the day, if the cost and risk of planting (effort, capital, etc.) outweigh the benefit (yield) of the predicted harvest, you don’t plant.

Just as the timing of planting lettuce seed determines whether your efforts will be rewarded, so does the timing of the efforts we put into our businesses.

Whether it’s improvements to your marketing, operations, or offerings, putting the effort in at the right time means everything to the outcome.

This doesn’t mean waiting around to take action until the timing is perfect–we all know that there’s never a “perfect” time–it simply means being aware of where you’re at in your own business timeline and market cycle. 

Ultimately, you need to act on what is going to get you the best return for your efforts and investment at any given time. And if you’re not sure how to make that determination, it might be time to consult an expert.

This is something we help clients and prospective clients with often. If you need support, book a Discovery Call and let’s chat!