The earlier you solve a growing problem or confront a blossoming bad habit, the easier it is to rein it back in.
The earlier philosopher Publilius Syrus once said, “Rivers are easiest to cross at their source.” This thinking applies to attacking problems and growing habits, too.
When we look at something that needs to be addressed, but, for lack of willingness or enthusiasm, delay addressing it, it only gets worse. How quickly may vary, but only rarely do problems get better on their own.
The earlier the intervention, the less complex, time-consuming, and heavy-handed it must be. But the longer we wait, the more the issue festers, grows, and overwhelms. Then we procrastinate because of anxiety, worry, fear, and the discomfort associated with addressing what is now a big, out-of-control thing. The cycle of procrastination allows the problem to get worse and worse, until our “addressing it” often becomes an unprofessional outburst (or worse).
This applies to the bad hire, the cash flow management concerns, the lack of business development efforts, the creation and implementation of checklists and procedures, personal finances, those small broken things around the house, and so much more.
Proactive behavior is about so much more than just trying to think ahead when you consider it through this lens. It becomes about dealing with problems when they’re easier, cheaper, and less time-consuming to address.
Cross the river at its source, as early after you find it as you can. Otherwise, you may risk getting caught in raging rapids that may cause you to risk it all.
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