We constantly hear complaints and discussions about all the “uncertainty” in the economy and government. People have succumbed to the paralysis of indecision. They are so fearful of the unknown that they end up doing nothing at all.

I confess to always being one of those “lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way” kind of people. I try not to waste too much time worrying about all the consequences of every decision. Certainly, I recognize the dangers of snap judgments and not weighing all the options carefully. And there is no question I’ve made my share of bad choices and suffered the consequences.

But I have always given the heaviest weight in any decision to the issue of time. None of us knows how much time we have in this life. We can’t assume we have anything more than today, and even today could be cut short. I tend to be swayed much more by potential opportunity than by succumbing to inaction because of the fear of potential failure.

Maybe that’s a personality flaw, but I don’t see it that way. I see it as an opportunity to make more of whatever time I have. I’ve long been a fan of Jack London’s famous response to aging: “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

The best use of my time is doing things, making things, and trying to make a better life for not only myself but also those around me. I have tuned my senses to see opportunities and to immediately try to take advantage of those opportunities. Yes, that frequently means making decisions while uncertainties abound. It certainly means facing potential failure. But waiting to make a decision is absolutely a guarantee of lost time, which I cannot abide.

Way back when I was starting high school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life, and high school was more of an impediment than a path. I figured out a way to graduate a year early while already working and then be able to start college — and a career — that much sooner, too. School officials tried to block me, but I made it happen and gained a year.

I still don’t know if that was the best decision, but I try not to revisit the roads not taken. Make your choices, move forward, take the consequences, learn, and maybe even profit from the head start and definitive direction. Don’t let uncertainty or indecision paralyze you. 

Making prompt choices and moving forward will always keep you out front. Yes, you might encounter obstacles before the rest of the pack does. But even those obstacles can become powerful tools to thrust you forward without losing time.

“Illegitimi non carborundum” isn’t a real Latin motto, but it still is worth repeating: Don’t let the bastards grind you down.