Are You Ready?

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

President Woodrow Wilson once said, “It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything.”

It has been some 6 years ago that Susan Reichert and I sat at a table in the local Barnes and Noble bookstore and discussed the idea of what has become Southern Writers Magazine. Many times I have asked myself if we were ready. I honestly must say, absolutely not. I had never been in the magazine business and had no idea what was ahead. Susan had been some years ago when it was all about the printed word but today everything was digital. We had no idea on what software was needed to produce the magazine or how best to present it but we were forging ahead. If we had decided to wait until we were ready we would not have had our first issue 4 months later or the 3 Million plus page views on our Suite T blog site today.

It is human nature to wait, hesitate or procrastinate when we face the unknown. The fact that Susan and I were partners in this endeavor was reassuring to us both. We felt we could do it if we had the support of the other. Out partnership had started a year earlier when we founded our local writers group. We put out the word and knew of only 3 people that may show up. We were good with that and hoped from that 3 we could grow. We were shocked when at our first meeting 26 writers showed up and the majority is with us today. That initial success was the foundation for our continued success with Southern Writers Magazine. Stepping out on faith can be easier with a partner. Support in any endeavor is a must.

In the world of sales there is a saying, “You can’t wait for all the lights to turn green before you leave home.”  Doing so would mean we would never be ready, never start and, most discouraging of all, never accomplish. You must never question yourself about being ready. Instead think about this idea that has come to you and only you and act on it. It is my belief by not acting on this idea, this gift given you, you have passed on it and it will be passed on to someone that will.

As President Woodrow Wilson said it is a terrible thing to wait because you do not feel you are ready. He went on to say it was his feeling that no one was ever ready. That has been proven to be true throughout our history. Every great success was accomplished by a person or group of people that were willing but not necessarily ready.

What is it that you are wanting to do but do not feel like you are ready to do? Would you feel stronger with support or with a partner? Share your idea and you may find there are others that feel as you do. You may end up with a partner or maybe with a cheering section to help you move along on your own. Ready or not you must act on it or allow it to be passed along to someone else that isn’t ready but is willing take action. So the line starts here, no waiting, start today! You are ready enough!